stalking club

[woodmaster]

Bunnydoom. This I think is exactly the reason many people would consider a club in which they have a democratic vote would seem appealing. As you I find there does seem to be a fairly small but significant number of people who either guard "their" ground with total secrecy and assume all newcomers are potential competition. Or offer the promise of stalking which either deminishes along with the number of deer and the money deposited. One can only assume this is due to there being more people who wish to stalk mainly in a recreational way than there is ground available. As most land owners would wish to have their ground maintained by either a small group or a single PH over which they have a large degree of control. This could be provided by a club, which one would hope could attract members with considerable experience who could not only oversee the management of an area but could pass on this knowledge to members, much as a good host does for his client in the normal paid day scenario. Land owners would benefit from the knowledge of more than one deer manager.
All this said I would think that the BDS must already being offering something similar to its members?

 

[BunnyDoom]

Surely this already exists - its called a syndicate...?!

 

[Steyer 6.5]

A club is a social organization or gathering with formal or informal membership.
Where as the definition of a syndicate is as follows

[TD="align: left"] 1. An association of people or firms authorized to undertake a duty or transact specific business.
2. An association of people or firms formed to engage in an enterprise or promote a common interest.
3. A loose affiliation of gangsters in control of organized criminal activities.
4. An agency that sells articles, features, or photographs for publication in a number of newspapers or periodicals simultaneously.
5. A company consisting of a number of separate newspapers; a newspaper chain.
6. The office, position, or jurisdiction of a syndic or body of syndics.

[/TD]

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Just my tenpennorth.
there is a NSCC group on pigeon watch for pigeon control costs 110 quid per year based over the north & midlands so why not the same method for say only muntjac stalking firstly and to be offered to landowners as a method of controlling the spread of the invasive species? With only memberships being offered after due dilligence checks on their abilities. Of course the question is who would be able to put the time in to run such a club? maybe semi retired type gents with a love of the sport and genuine desire to see good standards passed on to the younger members.
I think that is how the Thetford setup is run, correct me if I am wrong.
I retire next year but my location is wrong.
Martin

 

[Monkey Spanker]

They do exist, but seem to work best where no money is involved!
We have a good little group or 'club' here in Suffolk which could give you a start point for ideas. See here:
http://suffolkdeerstalkers.co.uk/
Surely a 'club' is more of a group of people that share similar interests and don't necessarily stalk the same ground? Regional branches of the BDS?
Lincolnshire deer group would also be another good example?
I run a couple of other small 'non-paying' groups which work very well. A good reputation and efficiency will also attract further ground!
MS

 

[deeangeo]

The only organisation I know of in the UK that you might actually call a 'Club' is 'The St Hubert Club of Gt Britain' based in Norfolk.
As I understand it, very strict codes of entry (By invitation)/competence/heirachy.
Certainly not convinced it would appeal to many, & seems pretty 'Highbrow'.

However, I'm not a member but I was invited as a 'Guest' a good few years ago. The set up seemed very good, but some of the folk there were just too much up their own backsides for me.

Others on this site who may be members may care to comment, but that is my view. ATB

 

[woodmaster]

Monkey spanker. I would be very interested to talk with you on the format of the "clubs" you run. If you would be happy to give some of your time and experience please drop me a PM.

 

[PointBlank]

They do exist, but seem to work best where no money is involved!
We have a good little group or 'club' here in Suffolk which could give you a start point for ideas. See here:
http://suffolkdeerstalkers.co.uk/
Surely a 'club' is more of a group of people that share similar interests and don't necessarily stalk the same ground? Regional branches of the BDS?
Lincolnshire deer group would also be another good example?
I run a couple of other small 'non-paying' groups which work very well. A good reputation and efficiency will also attract further ground!
MS

shhh!

best kept secret in Suffolk

 

[Steyer 6.5]

MS that looks a great group to be involved in and a very interesting website to browse.

 

[CarlF]

If there are any more developments on this little "Acorn" I would be very interested

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Monkey spanker. I would be very interested to talk with you on the format of the "clubs" you run. If you would be happy to give some of your time and experience please drop me a PM.

There's not much to say really mate so I may as well post it on here!
I think the origins were pretty much the same really. Both myself and the chap that runs the website were probably guilty of having accumulated far too much stalking ground, and rather than get to the point where we spread ourselves too thinly we decided to seek help from friends locally. This soon grows and before you know it a small club has formed! The friendship extends to collaborative culls, training and social events.
We could have gone down the more greedy route and sold stalking, taken clients out etc but that is where the problems usually start. This is why I believe that the secret to our success is that costs are kept to a minimum and everything is done on a friendly basis. Landowners soon see that everything is being carried out professionally and efficiently with deer welfare paramount which is often worth more than money. Word soon gets around!
I appreciate that we are fortunate in this part of the country to have loads of deer and land and that this will maybe not work out elsewhere, but it seems to work well for us here!
I hope this helps?
MS

 

[Steyer 6.5]

Monkey Spanker I like your attitude to the way you set it up and didn't take the easy route of selling stalking. Fair play

 

[PointBlank]

As a member of one of these groups I must say I have been trying to find the catch and so far I'm convinced there isn't one! A lot of the problems with stalking are down to the old problem of a few people with too much ground which in turn upsets the landowners because they are not getting enough time spent on their problem and the bad reputation which follows for other stalkers, and there is a lot of stalkers who are upset because they don't have any ground thinking that a few dedicated people are hoarding it all for themselves. The truth is unless you can give enough time to make a difference then you probably don't need your own ground which is where these groups come in.

Spreading the commitment over a number of people also helps because a professional service can be provided even though different people are able to donate varying amounts of time, also I know that some estates simply won't tolerate guests therefore unless you are a professional stalker you will not be able to give enough time for it.

As long as you can be be fairly sure that every member is following "best practice" then I believe it is a good idea ( as long as you don't want to get rich from stalking! )

 

[Cry Havoc]

As I read this thread developing the more interesting it sounds. Woodmaster if you find a way to start something thing this around here I'd be very interested.
Dom

 

[Steyer 6.5]

So I would I

 

[Hereford bull]

Monkey Spanker I like your attitude to the way you set it up and didn't take the easy route of selling stalking. Fair play

+1

 

[High seat]

I would too. Warwickshire

As I read this thread developing the more interesting it sounds. Woodmaster if you find a way to start something thing this around here I'd be very interested.
Dom

 

[legaleagle69]

Ain't never going to happen, we mulled it over couple of years back, even during the thought process there was so much back biting it was a non starter.
Now before we all scream that Rob is a complete git, the following is based on my own observations, and opinion, so maybe your experience is different to mine.

The biggest obstacle to overcome in my humble opion is that in the stalking community it seems jealousy is worse than in any other type of sport I have come across before.. you get little groups of folk belittling those who have a go to scupper it then the instigators sneak in afterwards to scoop up the item of interest, or they will go out as guests then offer the land owner an incentive to aquire the rights themselves.
In Europe every region has a hunting club, when I was in France there was a cracking one with really decent folk who stuck together & mucked in to get things done, sadly this is not the British way.
St. Huberts was originally based on this principle, there are differing opinions on how they work, or according to Orion the building practices can be at times strange when it comes to removing walls!! But they very carefully vet members to try and ensure the morons are kept out, unfortunately most of the old guard there are plummy gobbed ex-etonians that aren't always blessed with much more than a good dollop of self importance, so it is also sadly flawed also, but it does at least work to a degree. Although the last time I spoke with some of the members one was an electrician, the other a plumber & the other guy was a retired geography teacher, they all seemed thoroughly decent blokes.

So if you can weed out the idiots, thieves, & low lifes, then install a sense of community you may have a chance.. in the words of Tony Blair ..good luck ..you are gonna need it!!

 

[cjm1066]

I have been a St Hubert Club member for nearly 30 years, the members ship is very diverse, united by a common interest.

 

[Cuthbert]

Hello

Not much of a forum user but heard there was a hint of discussion concerning the deer group here in Suffolk so decided to have a read. The contact section of the website does not appear to be working for some reason as access to emails sent through the site cannot be opened at the moment.

Essentially, as Monkey Spanker says, increasing deer work becomes too thinly spread and this certainly led to the formation of the group in Suffolk. Essentially it is reletivly easy do (form a group) if you are determined to make it work but it does essentially rely on trust and having someone in charge. start small and trust builds within the group. keep landowners informed of every thing you intend to do, or want to do, and demonstrate how this will be/has been a benefit for them and they should begin to trust the group. once trust establishes all round and you begin to expand, always look to recruit the right people. A "rouge" group member who tries to "land steal" cannot usually compete with the trusted group and hence once this member shows their hand, then the bad apple can be removed from the tree and (rightly or wrongly but this is human nature) their name circulated amongst other stalkers.

I would certainly like to see more small groups form as I believe they offer a real alternative with added benefits over a sole stalker. there are plenty of deer about so we kept getting told so lets create more oppotunities for good, competent but non professional stalkers.


all of the stalkers in the group are a good bunch and each one of them is trusted. They all do a cracking job with their available time and hopefully allowing them to keep their carcassess gives them a little monetary incentive for the hard work.