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

[Ruby Tuesday 2]

How far from the Devon border are you. If you find yourself this side give me a DM I’ve got an air gun range and can sort out a stalk and butchery session later on.

 

[Jim Hutton]

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

I would join the club first then consider what rifle you want. You will get some good advice on what rifle/s you need to acquire. Most clubs will let you shoot their rifles whether they are members own rifles or those owned by the club. Personally I would want to go straight to a .22 rim fire rifle than an air rifle but that is my choice. The downside is that getting your own .22 rim fire rifle will likely take some time as you will need a Fire Arms Certificate and that can take months if not a year or more in some counties. However, you will need a Fire Arm Certificate eventually so that's why I would start down this route.

 

[Chris1]

Buy yourself a springer air rifle and get out stalking rabbits for a year or two..all four legged animals are a blueprint and butchering a rabbit isn't dissimilar to butchering a deer..the basics anyway. But you've got to learn field craft to shoot them first..and obviously safe handling of your rifle..once your happy with that and you've worked up to putting in for your FAC, see if you can get a permission managing the fox population..once you've done that and your confident in Fire Arms handling, fieldcraft and gralloching a deer, then and only then, should you think about getting into deer stalking..it's a long process but it's one that you can't afford to get wrong..consequences are injured animals running around and/or you in jail.

 

[Mike1979]

Buy yourself a springer air rifle and get out stalking rabbits for a year or two..all four legged animals are a blueprint and butchering a rabbit isn't dissimilar to butchering a deer..the basics anyway. But you've got to learn field craft to shoot them first..and obviously safe handling of your rifle..once your happy with that and you've worked up to putting in for your FAC, see if you can get a permission managing the fox population..once you've done that and your confident in Fire Arms handling, fieldcraft and gralloching a deer, then and only then, should you think about getting into deer stalking..it's a long process but it's one that you can't afford to get wrong..consequences are injured animals running around and/or you in jail.

Lots of good points but the last sentence applies regardless of quarry. You can still get injured animals and in trouble with a .17 hmr so not sure why an injured deer is more of an issue then an injured fox? Ultimately we all strive to avoid suffering of any kind regardless of quarry.

I think the key thing is that its very unlikely that you will get permission to shoot deer with no other experience unless you have deep pockets and even then you may have issues getting a FAC. Most of us who are lucky enough to have permissions with deer started with rabbits, foxes etc and once we did a good job more permissions and deer permissions came from there. However its not always a case of what you know as a lot of who you know come into it.

 

[Chris1]

Yes obviously, I know that nobody should go out shooting ANY animals with a blasé attitude..I was trying to make a point without having to write an essay.

 

[Mike1979]

Yes obviously, I know that nobody should go out shooting ANY animals with a blasé attitude..I was trying to make a point without having to write an essay.

Wasn't trying to be funny with my response...promise But to be fair an injured deer is a hell of a lot more visible.