Wanted: Planning ahead - want to get into deer stalking, never hunted before - Cornwall.

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ReynardTheFox

ReynardTheFox

Member
Hi everyone 👋
Like the title suggests, I would like to get into Deer Stalking and I'm based in Cornwall. I'm probs not going to take the plunge until next year when I have more time to dedicate to this, however I wanted to pick a few brains with some queries I had.

I would like to the DSC1 and DSC2 at some point but they seem a bit like gold dust down here. I have not had any firearms experience other than hunting games. I don't have a chiller and I rent.

So my questions are:

1. If I did a paid stalk, would I be able to be taught how to use a firearm safely and how to take a clean shot?

2. If I shot a deer (I'm leaning between Roe and Muntjac in terms of flavour of meat) would I need to chill or butcher at home or would that person who offered to take me on a paid stalk assist me with this also? Or does this differ from person to person?

3. I don't have a chiller so would struggle to find ways to hang the meat in rent accommodation that wouldn't offend the neighbours. Is it possible to butcher the deer, put in ziplock bags and in fridge for a couple days and then freeze?

I potentially would like to get into (wild)duck hunting at some point too, but would like to prioritise deer stalking first.

Thanks in Advance 🙏 🦊
 
1. When booking your first stalk explain your a first time stalker, no stalker is going to let you handle a rifle without teaching you safety or let you point it at an animal without teaching you how to make a clean killing shot. (I’d hope)
2. Discuss this when arranging the stalk and if it can be done, if not perhaps look for another stalker who can accommodate it.
3. Plenty of people that only wait a short time before butchering and freezing as that’s their only option.
Cheers
 
I would start by joining an air rifle club.

1) Safety is fundamental and can be learned with any gun.

2) You can learn all the essentials of accurate shooting conveniently and at a very low cost per round.

3) There are no licensing or special storage requirements unless you have children at home, so no extra costs, delays or constraints.

4) You can start with inexpensive kit.

5) There will be hunters there who have shot hundreds, even thousands, of pest birds and animals - far more than any normal deer stalker - and who will therefore have a unique depth of experience as to what makes a killing shot and how to get into range of their quarry.

With that groundwork in place, you can take on a paid stalk with enough "headspace" to focus on what makes shooting centrefire rifles and stalking deer different without the sensory and information overload you would experience if less well prepared.

At any time in the process, you can read up on the topics on the DSC1 syllabus, learning about deer (species, habits, annual cycles, anatomy), carcass preparation, the law, etc. so that you can be a more proficient client on your paid stalks and a clued-up student when you come to take the course.

As for butchery, there are lots of possible scenarios, but with smaller species, a modicum of logic and a supply of gloves, bags and wipes, it is almost always possible to leave the field with skinned primal cuts ready for chilling or freezing in a regular domestic appliance and wholly fit for eating.
 
For experience, you could also try getting some shooting lessons. For example Budleigh range in Devon. I did this many years ago when I was starting out and it was a good first step alongside finding a stalking mentor.

Well worth taking up the kind offer above though.
 
As said, airguns are very useful. I had been an airgun hunter and shotgunner most of my life and started deer stalking fairly late. If you can shoot an airgun off sticks and free hand then a centrefire should be no problem. I went from a .177 airgun to a 30-06 with no issues apart from the big grin on my face. But practice is the key. Plus background knowledge is handy, If you PM me I can send a hard cover book , The Deer Stalkering Handbook by Graham Dowling. Look on it as a gift and do something nice for a new stalker sometime in the future. I'd read up on the DSC1 and do as many practice sessions online as you can. Good luck and have fun :D
 
Get some practice in with an air rifle. Join a local target shooting club and start with the air rifle then progress on to .22RF.

Book a stalk with a reputable guide. They will take you to the range before the stalk and make sure you are comfortable using the rifle and can hit a deer target in the right place.

You can butcher a muntjac or roe in your kitchen and freeze it immediately. Lots of butchery videos on YouTube. A cheap vac pac machine is useful but by no means essential.

After a few stalks, if you think stalking is for you do the DSC1.
 
Paid stalks will give you the feel of it. I think I’d start with that prior to going down the DSC route but that’s just personal preference. Possibly some folk on here can recommend an outfitter that’s not a million miles away. Does/hinds always work out better value.

Biggest hassle is getting ground to shoot on but that’s depends on who you know / luck etc. Again paid stalking is always an option even longer term but it depends on funds
 
ReynardTheFox said:
Hi everyone 👋
Like the title suggests, I would like to get into Deer Stalking and I'm based in Cornwall. I'm probs not going to take the plunge until next year when I have more time to dedicate to this, however I wanted to pick a few brains with some queries I had.

I would like to the DSC1 and DSC2 at some point but they seem a bit like gold dust down here. I have not had any firearms experience other than hunting games. I don't have a chiller and I rent.

So my questions are:

1. If I did a paid stalk, would I be able to be taught how to use a firearm safely and how to take a clean shot?

2. If I shot a deer (I'm leaning between Roe and Muntjac in terms of flavour of meat) would I need to chill or butcher at home or would that person who offered to take me on a paid stalk assist me with this also? Or does this differ from person to person?

3. I don't have a chiller so would struggle to find ways to hang the meat in rent accommodation that wouldn't offend the neighbours. Is it possible to butcher the deer, put in ziplock bags and in fridge for a couple days and then freeze?

I potentially would like to get into (wild)duck hunting at some point too, but would like to prioritise deer stalking first.

Thanks in Advance 🙏 🦊
Click to expand...
Good luck with what you want, lots of positive posts, but what is not spoken about is when things go wrong as the most seasoned of stalkers will have had this when a shot goes wrong a deer starts to get up at worse it gets up and takes off.
My background into this insight is starting lower down the ladder with experience on (as I did) rabbits from missing a pop hole to watch them nip out and gone down the ditch to or pulling a shot and the rabbit bounces its way into cover.
Like learning to drive then getting caught out on black ice a week after passing your test.
Handling quarry is a good way to pick up on behavior a rabbit you shot which was "just sitting" then you find it is half blind with mixi or a pigeon with a breast bone like a razor then over time you learn but it takes time.
 

Long Range Shooting Handbook: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Precision Rifle Shooting: Cleckner, Ryan M: 9781518654725: Amazon.com: Books

Long Range Shooting Handbook: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Precision Rifle Shooting [Cleckner, Ryan M] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Long Range Shooting Handbook: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Precision Rifle Shooting
www.amazon.com

I would read this book or atleast the first 1/4 of it. The author also has good content on youtube.

then find some way to practice shooting. air rifles or .22 lr being ideal.

As it related to the venison post stalk. Nothing is written in stone... for example if pushed for space you can just quarter it and stick it straight into the freezer or cut the meat off the bone immediately and leave the stalking ground with just the meat.
 
tom.h said:

Long Range Shooting Handbook: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Precision Rifle Shooting: Cleckner, Ryan M: 9781518654725: Amazon.com: Books

Long Range Shooting Handbook: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Precision Rifle Shooting [Cleckner, Ryan M] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Long Range Shooting Handbook: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Precision Rifle Shooting
www.amazon.com

I would read this book or atleast the first 1/4 of it. The author also has good content on youtube.

then find some way to practice shooting. air rifles or .22 lr being ideal.

As it related to the venison post stalk. Nothing is written in stone... for example if pushed for space you can just quarter it and stick it straight into the freezer or cut the meat off the bone immediately and leave the stalking ground with just the meat.
Click to expand...
If the guide is happy to dispose of the skin and bones for you!
 
Hi all :)
I wanted to say thank you to all who have commented so far.
I feel so welcomed on this site so thank you again.

My plan is to join my local air rifle club and take it from there :)
I'll keep you updated on my deer stalking journey as it progresses 🦌

🦊
 
Try IanF in Devon for some shooting lessons on his own range and then progress with him to an accompanied stalk and he can help you with DSC1/2.
 
Like others have said you need to learn how to shoot first. Join a local gun club is your starting point. This will help you get your first FireArms Certificate. Once you have this experience then you can book a paid or otherwise stalk. Most stalkers offering something like this will want to see that you can zero your rifle and shoot accurately at a stationary target before they will let you loose on any deer.
 
Jim Hutton said:
Like others have said you need to learn how to shoot first. Join a local gun club is your starting point. This will help you get your first FireArms Certificate. Once you have this experience then you can book a paid or otherwise stalk. Most stalkers offering something like this will want to see that you can zero your rifle and shoot accurately at a stationary target before they will let you loose on any deer.
Click to expand...
Absolutely, I've decided I'm going to get an air rifle and learn to shoot rabbits before I go for deer. I've found a local air gunner club too, so planning to join and take it from there :)
 
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