Red deer stalking experiences?

[wildfowler.250]

Right gents, looking to pick some brains on here if that’s okay? Was thinking about starting a thread with some feedback on whichever estates people have stalked on? Where and what you would class as your best red deer stalking experiences? Stags or hinds?

I appreciate some folk may rebook a single venue on a yearly basis and others will try lots of different estates. If you’ve got any feedback on a particular estate, I’d be keen to hear it?

As far as red deer go, I‘ve only done a weeks stag stalking in Uist,(first week of October). The island was nice. Some decent stags. Did a few days starting off from a boat as well which was a novelty. 2 blue sky days and 2 horrifically wet and windy days. I’d certainly go back but I did find the ferry across and back took up a large chunk of 2 days holiday time which would be something to consider again. Had I went in September, I think the fishing would have been another plus. Roaring was very much on and off.

I think the next time, I’d try somewhere different for variety. What I’m really after is somewhere with decent scenery and reasonably challenging stalking. Uist again was great but it is relatively flat. Certainly the stalker did say the flatter ground was something that was a plus for some of their older clients.
At the same time, I’m not desperate for something steep steep like Glencoe so to speak.

What time of year do you tend to think is best? I sometimes wonder if September might be a bit kinder as far as the wind and rain goes. The rut seems to be a bit of a hit or miss at the best of times.

Any feedback would be great. I’m not planning booking anything this year. Just interested to see what ticks boxes for folk. What has been a pro and what has made a con?


Cheers!


Photo for some variety!

 

[caorach]

I did a wee report on some Lewis stalking which was a fantastic day out and not hard walking. On this estate and many others on Lewis and Harris you can walk as far as you want and on as hard ground as you want so it is a matter of what works on the day and what the stalker thinks you are up for:

A little Lewis trip with stalking, salmon and bogs.

Now that the trout season is over and things are winding down for all of the fishing I thought to file a little report on some Lewis fishing and stalking. As this is a stalking forum it is probably sensible to start with the deer. As you may have seen from the recent report on an attempt at a...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

Another member on here did a report on a McNab attempt on Harris:

MacNab Attempt - Isle of Harris

So a few folk might remember this thread from a while back: Good, inexpensive red stag - another fantastic offer for charity Caorach was good enough to draw my attention to the auction and I was lucky enough to bid for and win the MacNab opportunity on the Amhuinnsuidhe Estate on the Isle of...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

I've done other reports on both hind and stag stalking on other areas of Lewis, including some really challenging days with big miles and big ascents, but I think all the photos have gone from them since the Photobucket problems so no point linking to them.

In the end it comes down to personal preference and I like the really wild stalking and fishing but many people don't want to put that sort of effort in or simply can't do it, as I get older and after sitting about during the lockdowns I know I'm much less fit myself so it comes to us all. Also a lot of people want guaranteed success and guaranteed trophies and you don't get that with the real wild stalking but it works for some.

 

[scotch_egg]

Could you have had some goose flighting at the same time?

 

[eldon]

Lewis and Harris are such a great place for all sorts of reasons, highly recommended!

Here's a pic from a few years ago featuring my old CB1000R

 

[devon deer stalker]

@wildfowler.250 thanks for posting this thread as I'm interested in this.
As @caorach mentions, its the remote wild aspect that appeals to me, I'm not interested in a big stag, I can do that where I am, I'm just interested in the experience and the bonus of an animal.
Fishing is also on my list.
Cheers
Richard

 

[User00040]

@wildfowler.250 thanks for posting this thread as I'm interested in this.
As @caorach mentions, its the remote wild aspect that appeals to me, I'm not interested in a big stag, I can do that where I am, I'm just interested in the experience and the bonus of an animal.
Fishing is also on my list.
Cheers
Richard

Isle of Rùm, contact Toby at Gallanach Lodge.

@Stalker1962 did a nice writeup

 

[opticron1]

Lewis and Harris are such a great place for all sorts of reasons, highly recommended!

Here's a pic from a few years ago featuring my old CB1000R

Ah now...... Amhuinnsuidhe...... that's a place that features on my "Things-to-do" list...... nice bit of fishing and a day or two on the hill and back to the Castle for dinner overlooking the Bay...... excellent!

 

[caorach]

Could you have had some goose flighting at the same time?

Yes, I don't really shoot shotgun hence why I do no shotgun reports but there is fantastic opportunities for geese and also for snipe/woodcock/grouse over pointers depending on time of year.

Russell Hird has a well established business providing sport across a huge area and a wide range of estates, really he is the only person on Lewis doing this sort of thing but if you are interested it is worth talking with him. It is always possible to take a week or two where you guide yourself to some fishing and then take a day or two at stalking/shooting plus Russell has a dog friendly cottage for accommodation just a short walk from a salmon/sea trout river.

World Class Shooting | RJH Sports™ | Isle of Lewis

Shoot Grouse, Woodcock and much more in Scotland's Outer Hebrides with Russell Hird

www.rjhsports.co.uk

 

[caorach]

Ah now...... Amhuinnsuidhe...... that's a place that features on my "Things-to-do" list...... nice bit of fishing and a day or two on the hill and back to the Castle for dinner overlooking the Bay...... excellent!

I've never stayed in it simply because I don't live too far away but it is a fantastic place and I enjoy arriving in the morning to find a group of rods and guns standing around the front of the castle discussing the day ahead. Getting a chat, nipping into the castle to pick up the key to a remote fishing hut, and then driving to some remote spot and walking for another hour in the most amazing place to the loch really makes the day for me, after that the fishing is just an optional extra

I know they have some "mixed weeks" (The castle is usually let to a single group but occasionally they have a week when you can basically book a room and join others) coming up this season so you could always book yourself in!

 

[Husky]

Ah now...... Amhuinnsuidhe...... that's a place that features on my "Things-to-do" list...... nice bit of fishing and a day or two on the hill and back to the Castle for dinner overlooking the Bay...... excellent!

And watching the salmon leaping the falls at the front of the castle, while sipping your g&t.

 

[JH83]

Kinloch Moidart was immense, steep steep ground, no pony/quad/argo to get up and it’s basically a crawl to the top so you work for your beast. Sheildaig estate was incredibly pretty ground, however my best experience was Baledmund estate late rut, glorious sunny day and plenty beasts, all in full voice echoing around the Corrie, breathtaking. Quintessential beautiful country, rather different to the west coast…..easier going though ! Late in the rut is a bit safer IMO, and if you hit it right it’s as good as it gets.

 

[White Hart]

I must admit I far enjoy the hinds and also maybe a sadist but the poorer weather makes it... Go with some mates, rent a place throw in a dram or two in the evenings what's not to like! Money goes further too.....

 

[HDShark]

Possibly look at leasing some ground or joining a syndicate? Maybe a bit late for this year, but if you want some real "experiences" of reds, doing it all yourself is way more rewarding that being handheld onto the deer!

Likely get a whole year for the price of a day on an estate as well!

 

[Free range rob]

Possibly look at leasing some ground or joining a syndicate? Maybe a bit late for this year, but if you want some real "experiences" of reds, doing it all yourself is way more rewarding that being handheld onto the deer!

Likely get a whole year for the price of a day on an estate as well!

Exactly what I was looking into for those very reasons, but been so far away makes it challenging finding the right ground/syndicate.

 

[wildfowler.250]

I did a wee report on some Lewis stalking which was a fantastic day out and not hard walking. On this estate and many others on Lewis and Harris you can walk as far as you want and on as hard ground as you want so it is a matter of what works on the day and what the stalker thinks you are up for:

A little Lewis trip with stalking, salmon and bogs.

Now that the trout season is over and things are winding down for all of the fishing I thought to file a little report on some Lewis fishing and stalking. As this is a stalking forum it is probably sensible to start with the deer. As you may have seen from the recent report on an attempt at a...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

Another member on here did a report on a McNab attempt on Harris:

MacNab Attempt - Isle of Harris

So a few folk might remember this thread from a while back: Good, inexpensive red stag - another fantastic offer for charity Caorach was good enough to draw my attention to the auction and I was lucky enough to bid for and win the MacNab opportunity on the Amhuinnsuidhe Estate on the Isle of...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

I've done other reports on both hind and stag stalking on other areas of Lewis, including some really challenging days with big miles and big ascents, but I think all the photos have gone from them since the Photobucket problems so no point linking to them.

In the end it comes down to personal preference and I like the really wild stalking and fishing but many people don't want to put that sort of effort in or simply can't do it, as I get older and after sitting about during the lockdowns I know I'm much less fit myself so it comes to us all. Also a lot of people want guaranteed success and guaranteed trophies and you don't get that with the real wild stalking but it works for some.

I enjoyed reading those. It’s nice to see some feedback on various estates and appreciate the links. I find the pages of write ups quite hard to navigate and narrow the reports down.

Harris certainly looks like a nice spot. I think it has a few more features and scenery than Uist as well as far as the Hebrides goes

Lewis and Harris are such a great place for all sorts of reasons, highly recommended!

Here's a pic from a few years ago featuring my old CB1000R

I’ve been meaning to go to Harris purely for a holiday as it is actually but usually I’m too late in booking anywhere. One to tie in and drag herself along at the same time..

@wildfowler.250 thanks for posting this thread as I'm interested in this.
As @caorach mentions, its the remote wild aspect that appeals to me, I'm not interested in a big stag, I can do that where I am, I'm just interested in the experience and the bonus of an animal.
Fishing is also on my list.
Cheers
Richard

Cheers. I think it’s nice to try and get some feedback on various places. You get 6 pages on “what gun” or “caliber” but there’s not a huge amount about varying estates. So many options between Galloway, Perth shire , Sutherland, Hebrides!

Isle of Rùm, contact Toby at Gallanach Lodge.

@Stalker1962 did a nice writeup

Hadn’t thought of there actually! Have you been yourself? Will have a look for the write up!

Kinloch Moidart was immense, steep steep ground, no pony/quad/argo to get up and it’s basically a crawl to the top so you work for your beast. Sheildaig estate was incredibly pretty ground, however my best experience was Baledmund estate late rut, glorious sunny day and plenty beasts, all in full voice echoing around the Corrie, breathtaking. Quintessential beautiful country, rather different to the west coast…..easier going though ! Late in the rut is a bit safer IMO, and if you hit it right it’s as good as it gets.

View attachment 247943View attachment 247944

Perfect reply! Nice to hear of a few locations and some photos as well. I can imagine around sheildaig to be very scenic..

I must admit I far enjoy the hinds and also maybe a sadist but the poorer weather makes it... Go with some mates, rent a place throw in a dram or two in the evenings what's not to like! Money goes further too.....

I get that. There’s something quite rewarding about grafting out a result in cold weather. Leaning more towards the hinds myself these days as well. Same day out. Nice cool weather. And there’s only so much wall space you can hang stuff before they start to become a clutter

Possibly look at leasing some ground or joining a syndicate? Maybe a bit late for this year, but if you want some real "experiences" of reds, doing it all yourself is way more rewarding that being handheld onto the deer!

Likely get a whole year for the price of a day on an estate as well!

It’s a good idea. At some point I will probably go down this route. It’s nice to get a trip away, a few beers and see somewhere different as well. Pros and cons to both!

 

[wildfowler.250]

Would be fab to hear more replies / feedback on places from folk be it hinds or stags. Usually we can get a 100 odd replies on a caliber debate and I’m sure there’s a wealth of feedback and experiences on estates/locations on here. Does an agro vs a pony matter? Later in the season better for less midges? Perth-shire a favourite because it’s easy access from the cities?

Anything at all, would be good to hear it. Cheers for the replies so far!

 

[willie_gunn]

I’m afraid I’m one of those who went back to the same estate for years; Ben Armine in Sutherland.

It was ideal for us - a historic Victorian lodge 8 miles down an unmade track, a great salmon river 100 yards away, deer roaring around the lodge at night and in the morning, and wonderful stalking with the estate stalkers, all accessed direct from the lodge itself.

We used to go in late September/early October. The weather was fine (for Scotland) and the midges tended only to be a problem when zeroing, or if fishing in the evening once the wind dropped.

We loved it so much that Mrs Gunn and I used to rent the lodge for a week in the Summer as well, as the walking and photography were wonderful too.

The lodge and stalking are now leased out, and I can’t speak as to how things are today, but I believe it is still available.

 

[NullMac]

Possibly look at leasing some ground or joining a syndicate? Maybe a bit late for this year, but if you want some real "experiences" of reds, doing it all yourself is way more rewarding that being handheld onto the deer!

Likely get a whole year for the price of a day on an estate as well!

Appealing in theory. The reality is somewhat different. Been there etc when I was younger and dafter (hopefully)

The benefit of the estate is the additional pair of hands and the argo/pony or whatever.

If you are going to do it yersel then as a minimum you need a quad with a spinal board and some muscles. Dragging stags is for mugs. So its not a whole year for the price of a day. You also need to have a reliable repository for the deer, 'cos you can't eat all of that.

Personally I am more than happy to pay for the support and infrastructure.

 

[lambic]

Appealing in theory. The reality is somewhat different. Been there etc when I was younger and dafter (hopefully)

The benefit of the estate is the additional pair of hands and the argo/pony or whatever.

If you are going to do it yersel then as a minimum you need a quad with a spinal board and some muscles. Dragging stags is for mugs. So its not a whole year for the price of a day. You also need to have a reliable repository for the deer, 'cos you can't eat all of that.

Personally I am more than happy to pay for the support and infrastructure.

You will save a fortune dragging out the red stags yourself.
You'll only do it the once and then decide roe deer are far more civilised.