Stalking advice

[Craigmcwill]

Hi all,

Been out stalking a few times and have been asked by a friend to be taken under his wing to learn more on stalking deer to eventually give him a hand taking out clients.

Just looking for any advice guys have for getting in on the deer better and any other little tips you guys have picked up over the years for some help.

My friend will be helping me too but everyone's input is appreciated.

Cheers guys

 

[bogtrotter]

Just listen to your mentor.

 

[Craigmcwill]

Also, does anyone have any recommendations for good reading materials or videos to watch when I'm not out with him to help learning more?

 

[308tikka]

Buy boots that dont crunch. Some are better than others and mostly its the way people walk.

Quiet trousers, no swish swash, and no buttons that clink on the rifle as you walk (I found fjallraven did this).

Soft cover on moderator to avoid clinks against branches.

A facemask / snood and gloves.

Use binos frequently. Pause and watch.

Dont carry too much. People get tired then they just walk around instead of stalking.

Eventually youll be able to get into near touching distance.

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

Just keep learning your ground deer will generally keep to the same patern and time spent on your ground will give this information up, my ground is mainly roe and ive had deer that if you had staked them to the ground on a 100 yard peice of rope they would have never pulled it tight.

 

[Sealgair nam fiadh]

What kind of timescale are you talking about ?
" Been out Stalking a few times" to " taking out clients" is a big jump.

 

[Craigmcwill]

What kind of timescale are you talking about ?
" Been out Stalking a few times" to " taking out clients" is a big jump.

Its just way in the future but that's the plan eventually. I'd just like to do some training myself when not with him as the ground is 1.5 hours away and I don't want to let him down by not progressing. I regularly just go out without the rifle and just watch the deer, try and learn their patterns and practice stalking in on them its just to see if there's any other little tips I can try on my journey to get better.

 

[VSS]

Leave your rifle at home for a while, and get out stalking (and by stalking, I mean really stalking, getting in as close as you can) with just your binos and maybe a camera. You will learn more about deer - and about your own abilities as a stalker - by doing that than you ever will by merely getting within shooting range and pulling the trigger.
And do as much larder work under the watchful eye of your mentor as you can. Your clients really won't think much of you if you make a less-than-professional job of gralloching and lardering the beast they've just shot. In fact, I'd highly recommend the one day gralloching and larder work course run by @flyingfisherman, where you'll get the opportunity to learn and use a whole variety of different techniques on multiple deer of 3 different species.

Edit: Your post #7 popped up while I was typing the above. I see that you're already doing as I suggest. Good

 

[willowbank]

Pay close attention to the wind direction and forget scented soap and aftershave.

WB

 

[Sealgair nam fiadh]

Go out with your friend and be his ghillie, that way you will learn the ground, learn to stalk and learn how to deal with clients.

 

[Sealgair nam fiadh]

Deer are easy, it's the clients that can be hard work !

 

[Craigmcwill]

I'm trying to get out with my friend as much as possible its just with the drive away I can't make it all the time. Just trying to learn things for when I cant make it. I know the massive opportunity I've been given to go and lend a hand so I want to learn as much as possible when not with him.

 

[Craigmcwill]

Deer are easy, it's the clients that can be hard work !

Really? Are they a nightmare at times?

 

[Sealgair nam fiadh]

Once you've taken clients out you will find that some can be, how can I put this politely, " challenging"

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Hi all,

Been out stalking a few times and have been asked by a friend to be taken under his wing to learn more on stalking deer to eventually give him a hand taking out clients.

Just looking for any advice guys have for getting in on the deer better and any other little tips you guys have picked up over the years for some help.

My friend will be helping me too but everyone's input is appreciated.

Cheers guys

I like to have a day out stalking each year with someone who has not taken me out before. I learn something each time I walk behind a stalker. There's always more to learn and the more folk and the more ground and deer that you see, the more that you will learn.
Good luck.
JCS

 

[sikamalc]

Best of luck with taking clients out.

You will get to meet all sorts over the years. Most are good people, but you will find some right idiots from time to time. Dangerous ones as well, that I would'nt give a catapult to, let alone a rifle. I have had a few over the years.

Learn the ground well, learn the species on it, take your time, get to know the wind patterns on the ground. You will need a lot of patience if your taking clients out. Most of all beware of the client that walks through the door and claims to have shot hundreds of deer, or was a sniper in the millitary, or has all new gear and struggles to put the bolt in their rifle, whilst pointing the barrel your way, or into the air.
They are out there.

 

[Craigmcwill]

Thanks for all the help guys its much appreciated!

Can anyone recommend any books or anything they've read for some night time reading to help also?

 

[Tim.243]

Thanks for all the help guys its much appreciated!

Can anyone recommend any books or anything they've read for some night time reading to help also?

@South of the M4 Larry has a decent book. also SD member

 

[JSW]

Keep a eye on the sunny side of the hedge
And keep a sense of humour.

 

[South West Stalkers]

Simply don't forget that you will be the one who is meant to provide the best possible stalking experience for the client, so act around that be a leader but try to involve your client as much as possible. Learn about "guiding" etiquette and be helpful. Safety comes first so you need to evaluate and constantly keep an eye on your client how he handles the rifle and how he behaves in different situations.