Price of stalking

[Mickeydredd]

Stalking is moving away from the common man again as we are being priced out.

I don't think it is.

Estates have always charged big money for "the experience". There is still a lot of stalking to be had for either no cost, the odd bag of venison or a reasonably-priced lease. I can personally evidence each of these options within the last couple of years.

There are also now some incentive schemes to provide a reasonable reward for the stalker's efforts.

Edit: Shabz is also correct regarding the forestry leases.

 

[homer]

Horses for courses really. Same with everything in life, you can go and buy a ford fiesta, or if you have the money, a lamborgini!
If its too much for your budget, look elsewhere. As someone has already said, it costs an absolute fortune to keep an estate running now, so profit wise, there may not be much made at that price.

 

[Rafter]

For 15k NZD you could fly 2 guys to NZ and shoot a reasonable stag on paid hunts, or as many as you can for free on public land. You won't have a ghillie telling you how awesome you are, but it will probably be memorable nevertheless.

 

[kieran222]

The "Scotland has a deer problem" is only relevant if you have ground to shoot on. If you haven't then you have to pay to shoot on someone else's land. I could see that price being justified, if the accommodation, location and stag quality were good. I wouldn't be interested myself but I would probably have had an idea before requesting a price that it wouldn't be what I would want. They will probably have plenty of Americans to pay for those hunts, £3.5k each wouldn't be extortionate for some.

What would you have thought would be a reasonable price?

If you are looking for value, book your stalking on here and your accommodation separately.

 

[HonestJohn]

There’s no deer problem in Scotland, there’s a deer problem in England though . instead of estates becoming re wilding, carbon capture, and throwing up stupid little glamping pods everywhere, I think it’s good if they can pull in high paying customers to make the traditional
Model stick a little longer. Ok, maybe not for the common man, but does it have to be? A fully inclusive trip to the dark continent isnt exactly for the common man either.

 

[Rutland lad]

We all have opinions and I understand them totally.
I have a friend who wears a £15 Biden watch who ribs another friend mercilessly about his £10,000 Rolex.
Both do the job, one feels quality and tells the time, the other just tells the time.
I understand both points of view.
The ‘experience’ bit I get too, but for me personally, I feel the price is rich. That is all.
My wife would point out the motorbikes I have in the garage and tell me I can’t ride more than one at a time. But she doesn’t understand……

 

[nic531]

Not all of Scotland has a deer problem. the price imho is way too much at face value for the offer. Everything is going up in price so estates are increasing prices each year massively. It wasn't uncommon to get a great estate stag for £4-450 around 2021/22 and cheap accommodation so 2 days great stalking for £1000-1100 if one were so inclined. Stalking is moving away from the common man again as we are being priced out.

as you say "and cheap accomodation". I imagine that the accommodation at this place is not on the cheap end of the scale.
I cannot have a go at someone in business offering a deal that someone is willing to pay. I beat on a commercial shoot that is not one of the 'big' shoots but we have people that are willing to pay to travel from Europe to shoot pheasants there at a price far above what I would be willing or able to pay. Still cannot knock them for it though, if that is what they want to spend their money on.

 

[Freeforester]

We all have opinions and I understand them totally.
I have a friend who wears a £15 Biden watch who ribs another friend mercilessly about his £10,000 Rolex.
Both do the job, one feels quality and tells the time, the other just tells the time.
I understand both points of view.
The ‘experience’ bit I get too, but for me personally, I feel the price is rich. That is all.
My wife would point out the motorbikes I have in the garage and tell me I can’t ride more than one at a time. But she doesn’t understand……

Ask her to count her feet, then her shoes…

 

[Pedro]

If they charge that and people pay that, then it's not over-charging, or simply people wouldn't pay it. Market values.

It's far too rich for me though.