Turnips
Well-Known Member
I hope this post is okay: I wanted to consult the combined grey matter for advice on what I should do next, and hopefully get a shove in the right direction from some of the more experienced stalkers on here.
For those not familiar with my story so far: I've completed my DSC1, have a FAC with a pending variation for 308, and have been going out with a mentor (at the behest of my local police force). I do not have any permissions for deer and I won't be looking for any or a syndicate place, for a little while - unless they come with a mentor! My variation is sat on hold waiting for supporting documents for my good reason, these would be invoices for paid stalking which must be on ground that has been cleared for the territorial restrictions on calibre. My mentor does not have ground that has been cleared and shoots on an open certificate, while he used to guide professionally he is retired and is understandably unwilling to get his land cleared. While this has thrown a slight delay with my variation - I will still be going stalking with him using his rifle. He has been an absolute gent and I am forever in his debt for (a.) planting the seed with me ten years ago and (b.) offering to take me out and mentor me onto the larger calibres and introduce me to stalking.
With all that in mind, I am looking for recommendations for some guided stalking, and ideally, also for an AW who has land which has been cleared in the North of England to do my DSC2 and prep with. I am not sure if the AW list is different depending on if you do it through BASC/BDS/etc, so I haven't paid for the course material through any provider yet. I am happy to travel a few hours for the right guide, but obviously the closer the better for my DSC2. I know there are a few threads out there and I have read them, but so much of stalking is word of mouth and reputation - I would rather ask the question again myself. Just to add here that I am of course happy to pay the going rate, but I am not looking for the higher costs involved with taking medal heads etc. My interest (and pocket depth, unfortunately...) is not trophy hunting, it is deer management and responsible culling.
Gralloching I think is the area where I need the most practice. If somebody has come up with a way to repeatedly gralloch the same deer then please let me know
I'm not sure my wife is up for me taking six months off work to volunteer as a ghillies assistant, as much fun as that would be!
For those not familiar with my story so far: I've completed my DSC1, have a FAC with a pending variation for 308, and have been going out with a mentor (at the behest of my local police force). I do not have any permissions for deer and I won't be looking for any or a syndicate place, for a little while - unless they come with a mentor! My variation is sat on hold waiting for supporting documents for my good reason, these would be invoices for paid stalking which must be on ground that has been cleared for the territorial restrictions on calibre. My mentor does not have ground that has been cleared and shoots on an open certificate, while he used to guide professionally he is retired and is understandably unwilling to get his land cleared. While this has thrown a slight delay with my variation - I will still be going stalking with him using his rifle. He has been an absolute gent and I am forever in his debt for (a.) planting the seed with me ten years ago and (b.) offering to take me out and mentor me onto the larger calibres and introduce me to stalking.
With all that in mind, I am looking for recommendations for some guided stalking, and ideally, also for an AW who has land which has been cleared in the North of England to do my DSC2 and prep with. I am not sure if the AW list is different depending on if you do it through BASC/BDS/etc, so I haven't paid for the course material through any provider yet. I am happy to travel a few hours for the right guide, but obviously the closer the better for my DSC2. I know there are a few threads out there and I have read them, but so much of stalking is word of mouth and reputation - I would rather ask the question again myself. Just to add here that I am of course happy to pay the going rate, but I am not looking for the higher costs involved with taking medal heads etc. My interest (and pocket depth, unfortunately...) is not trophy hunting, it is deer management and responsible culling.
Gralloching I think is the area where I need the most practice. If somebody has come up with a way to repeatedly gralloch the same deer then please let me know
I'm not sure my wife is up for me taking six months off work to volunteer as a ghillies assistant, as much fun as that would be!
