Available: Sporting lots auction - last few hours and some cracking bargains

[caorach]

There are still some cracking lots going at very reasonable prices in the Fisheries Trust auction and we are now into the last few hours so if you want a "once in a lifetime" sporting opportunity then you don't have much time:

Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust | Powered by Givergy

Bid on exclusive money can't buy items & experiences with Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust. Enter into one of our charity auctions, prize draws or buy e

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In terms of stalking the the stalking lot at Eishken really is a "money can't buy" chance for someone and currently it is relatively inexpensive for a day at stags but just amazingly cheap for what it is - access to the stalking is by boat and recovery of stags is done with the ponies so it takes about 6 people to put each stalker on the hill, it is a seriously big day out. Eishken don't let days, so you can't buy this even if you didn't mind paying full price for it. The stags are completely wild and live almost completely cut off from people the whole year so they aren't fed or half tame and the whole experience of stalking out there is just remarkable for someone who might have stalked a few other places and is looking for something different. The ground isn't super difficult so while it does require a reasonable degree of fitness because recovery is done with ponies you won't be dragging a stag for 5 hours and the required walking is within the reach of many.

A 2017 report of some stalking at Eishken, along with other Lewis fishing all of which is available in the auction, can be seen here for anyone who is undecided:

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

 

[NickJ]

Agreed, some lovely estates donating lots, some at 40% of market price, closes 7pm

 

[caorach]

Agreed, some lovely estates donating lots, some at 40% of market price, closes 7pm

I can't believe how cheap the Eishken stalking is as you can't buy this and there can't be many other places in the UK providing such an experience. Equally it would be great if someone who couldn't otherwise manage such a "big day out" finds themselves heading for Eishken next season. The week in Hamanavay is also a really cheap holiday if you can get 8 people together plus it comes with the fishing and a ghillie and I don't know if there is anywhere else in the UK so remote and remarkable as Hamanavay so it is a unique experience for someone and would currently work out at about £150 per head. I'd be bidding on the Eishken stalking if it weren't that my personal circumstances are a little bit complicated just now

 

[deerstalker.308]

Some cracking deals there!!

 

[Country Gent]

Any idea if there’s another auction planned as missed this one

 

[caorach]

Any idea if there’s another auction planned as missed this one

Honestly I don't know, in the past these have been a fairly irregular event but I know the trust has taken on a new member of staff and a small part of their role is organising such auctions so it is possible they might become an annual event. I posted on here when the last one took place - back in 2017 - and will try to post again should there be another one.

The next bit is just additional info, you might want to ignore it but it might open some opportunities for you and put things in perspective:

The appeal of the auction isn't just that the lots often sell for less than you'd pay on the open market but also that many of them are simply unavailable. Lewis and Harris, in particular, were extremely exclusive destinations in terms of sport and to some extent this still remains the case - I have some older books on fishing for example and they dispose of Lewis and Harris with a phrase along the lines of "there is no fishing available on these islands." In part I think this is the reason why the Uists have always been better known as sporting destinations as historically they were much less exclusive. It has also been the case that because the sport is so exclusive it isn't at all well known outwith those who get invited simply because the owners aren't, or weren't until a few years ago, interested in attracting customers and the people who did get invited weren't the sort that I would meet in the street, in sporting mags, or on the internet.

If you are interested in sport on Lewis then it is well worth getting in touch with Russell Hird as he has opened up a lot of Lewis sport to visitors who might want to book a day or a few days and who aren't generally referred to as "Your Royal Highness." He is the only person doing this and he provides excellent wild sport. His prices are very reasonable and he can offer things like evening flighting for geese at a very low cost allowing the visitor to mix and match their sport depending on budget - you could take yourself to trout or onto an association water for a salmon or sea trout during the day and have an evening for geese giving you a great day of wild sport for very little money. The next day you could do a full walked up day for grouse over pointers, or a day at stags. One thing I will say is you need to be as fit as possible if you are to get maximum enjoyment out of any Lewis sporting visit, easily accessible sport is possible but if you can walk on the moor you will have much more fun:

Welcome

Truly Wild Sport in Scotland's Outer Hebrides with Russell Hird

www.rjhsports.co.uk

I have no connection with Russell other than that I have shot some deer with him and I would occasionally bump into him when I'm out the moor fishing. The following video was shot a few years back and I started the day with a cast for a salmon/sea trout and then I walked out to investigate some trout lochs. On the way back in I bumped into Russell and some guns who had just packed up for the day, however the dogs went on point and they called me over to watch the dogs working and say hello:

 

[Stalker62]

@caorach

Always enjoy watching your wee films - they are tremendous for folk who cannot get out, to see and do, what you see and do.

I was on Harris (I think) last year. Just such a special place.

Here is my wife, with the two 'wind indicators' at the Callanish Stones.

​

 

[old keeper]

Many thanks for that. As always, it was an excellent video.

 

[caorach]

@caorach

Always enjoy watching your wee films - they are tremendous for folk who cannot get out, to see and do, what you see and do.

I was on Harris (I think) last year. Just such a special place.

Here is my wife, with the two 'wind indicators' at the Callanish Stones.

​

View attachment 392053

I love the dogs but Lewis is said to be the most windy inhabited place in the world so spaniels are at great risk of getting a whack in the eye with their own ear!