Wanted: Update on trying to get a deer stalk

BRACES of Bristol - Sauer 100 XTA Stainless Package
VSS said:
You might just have to put in the miles.
Pretty sure I went that far for my first ever stalk, courtesy of the generosity of a member of this site, and I reckon I'm not the only one.
There's plenty of folk who regularly drive that far to their stalking ground.
Don't just sit and wait for the opportunities to come to you. That happens later, when you've notched up some experience. Getting started is different. You have to work at it. Put in the hours and do the miles.
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just off to a farm with after 3 years of shooting foxes/pigeons the owner said can you sort out the deer please so @Fireflytk it is a time game to shoot the Kings/Gods deer
 
I shot my first deer in 2013, did my DSC1 in 2014 and paid for stalking for many years until I joined a club with its own leases.

Through the club I found out about a syndicate, which is word of mouth, not advertised and joined that.

I started helping out a deer manager on his ground because he needed to shoot more small deer than he could find an outlet for. He very kindly took me under his wing and helped me develop my skills a lot.

I have now just got my own permission and it has taken many years of trying to build trust with a local landowner to get that.

Nearly 13 years from shooting my first deer and getting the bug to where I am now.

Things take time. Enjoy the journey. You've got a lifetime of stalking ahead.
 
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I'm a new stalker and new member here, although a generation older than you, I've found a lot of great people on this forum and I have been out already on 2 paid stalks from the opportunities section. I haven't got my PDS1 or DSC1 yet but planning to do that next.
 
Fireflytk said:
Just here to update as a while back I asked about deer stalking in my area and I now have a few bits of information to add

As of recently I have decided to put myself through the PDS1 course (proficient Deer Stalking certification level 1 ) and I’m now setting up my practical shooting assessment with an approved verifier which will allow them to obtain range time and proper experience with deer rifles. I’m now sorting the date for it to take place around January into the new year.

After the shooting assesment I would like to arrange a first stalk soon after , I’ve been advised that assessors can help you get you first stalk in however I’m also going to look here for advice and or further ways into getting a stalk in, most likely I should be available after the new year.

Yours kindly , Connor McArthur


View attachment 450877
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never heard of a more long winded way of going about getting your first stalk
 
GIMLET61 said:
Its really a matter of how much you want it, you will need to put yourself out if expecting others to do the same.
Where your based, there are plenty of good people on SD within a couple of hours drive.
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I was reflecting on the start of my working life, cherry picking a phrase posted a few times on this thread "you will need to put yourself out"
It was a 42 mile round trip on my moped to a apprentice training collage. Clocking in a 7.45 sat down in our various sections with the instructor then going off to the mills lathes electrical fab welding sections, then clocking out 4.45 (I think) back down the A127 in all weathers then back the next day.
Little gangs of mopeds waving a hand as they peeled off in various directions with my 2 friends Nigel and Dave heading off to Chelmsford until I we caught up in the morning. I can still remember coming back in the winter dark (raining) with my dear old Dad waiting in the shed as I rolled it in saying "you are late did you break down" with me showing him the swapped out plug lol
If it was now and I had the offer of something (a stalk) then the moped would be fuelled (spare plug) and I would have been gone.
 
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Tim.243 said:
cherry picking a phrase posted a few times on this thread "you will need to put yourself out"
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Exactly this, Tim.

If you want to do the stalking you've got to do the walking.

Saturday I drove 4 hours to stalk, had a cracking day in the company of an excellent guide, 7 deer on the deck between us, happy landowner, then drove 4 hours home again with a couple of carcasses in the back.

The OP has had some generous offers from members of this site, but he's not going to endear himself to the community on here if he turns down everything that involves putting himself out a bit.
And before long, the offers will simply dry up.
 
VSS said:
Exactly this, Tim.

If you want to do the stalking you've got to do the walking.

Saturday I drove 4 hours to stalk, had a cracking day in the company of an excellent guide, 7 deer on the deck between us, happy landowner, then drove 4 hours home again with a couple of carcasses in the back.

The OP has had some generous offers from members of this site, but he's not going to endear himself to the community on here if he turns down everything that involves putting himself out a bit.
And before long, the offers will simply dry up.
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as long as he has bits of paper thats all that matters
 
Guys I would love to go on a stalk at least three times per week.
But at the age of 68yrs i have to do the school run every day as I have a 15yr old Daughter and a 12 yr old Grand daughter who both have special needs.
Doing more hours now than when I worked.
But I struggle to to get days for a paid stalk.
But I have traveled from Kent to Hereford just to stalk
 
VSS said:
Exactly this, Tim.

If you want to do the stalking you've got to do the walking.

Saturday I drove 4 hours to stalk, had a cracking day in the company of an excellent guide, 7 deer on the deck between us, happy landowner, then drove 4 hours home again with a couple of carcasses in the back.

The OP has had some generous offers from members of this site, but he's not going to endear himself to the community on here if he turns down everything that involves putting himself out a bit.
And before long, the offers will simply dry up.
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These are 5mins down the road but at 4.30am they may as well be 5 hrs lol
@Fireflytk
20251215042138[1].webp
 
bottletopbill said:
Guys I would love to go on a stalk at least three times per week.
But at the age of 68yrs i have to do the school run every day as I have a 15yr old Daughter and a 12 yr old Grand daughter who both have special needs.
Doing more hours now than when I worked.
But I struggle to to get days for a paid stalk.
But I have traveled from Kent to Hereford just to stalk
Click to expand...
careful what you wish for bill it very soon becomes a chore
 
bottletopbill said:
Guys I would love to go on a stalk at least three times per week.
But at the age of 68yrs i have to do the school run every day as I have a 15yr old Daughter and a 12 yr old Grand daughter who both have special needs.
Doing more hours now than when I worked.
But I struggle to to get days for a paid stalk.
But I have traveled from Kent to Hereford just to stalk
Click to expand...
Muntjac are in season 365 days a year leaving you 730 options of a morning or afternoon stalk. :tiphat:
 
GIMLET61 said:
Its really a matter of how much you want it, you will need to put yourself out if expecting others to do the same.
Where your based, there are plenty of good people on SD within a couple of hours drive.
Click to expand...
Jesus, I've had clients travel half way across the world to go deer stalking, but a few hours to get the first deer is too far?, I don't think deer stalking is for the OP, but still it's a bit of advertising for the PDS1
 
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