Where to start

[jakedykes89]

Hi all and thank you in advance for the warm welcome. Im based in eccles in kent near Ayelsford. I have literally zero experience and would love to learn as much as I can but dont just want to pay for a day and that be all. I was just hoping for some advice to make my first steps into this world. With no knowledge and no contacts it seems so daunting and impossible to begin without judgment especially at 36 years old. I would be so grateful for any advice and guidance.

Thanks
Jake

 

[VSS]

Welcome!
You've come to the right place.

 

[WalkedUp]

Hi all and thank you in advance for the warm welcome. Im based in eccles in kent near Ayelsford. I have literally zero experience and would love to learn as much as I can but dont just want to pay for a day and that be all. I was just hoping for some advice to make my first steps into this world. With no knowledge and no contacts it seems so daunting and impossible to begin without judgment especially at 36 years old. I would be so grateful for any advice and guidance.

Thanks
Jake

I started out in the exact same position as you, albeit 25 years ago! You are in the right place to make good contacts and enjoy all aspects of field sports.

 

[jakedykes89]

I started out in the exact same position as you, albeit 25 years ago! You are in the right place to make good contacts and enjoy all aspects of field sports.

That is reassuring to hear. Can I ask what your first steps were

 

[Girl_with_a_gun]

Hey Jake. I also came in as a late starter with no background - it's a wonderful activity and utterly addictive. Personally I'd start with some learning. There are now so many ways of doing it, from paid courses, to the amazing app that a member on here has recently designed (First Light), to the old YouTube standard (worth looking at a few as some are better than others just as a word of caution) to going old school like I did and getting books out the library by the old and bold. Having some background knowledge makes the whole thing so much more interesting when you do get out on the ground. Also don't be too quick to take a rifle out - get out early and late just you and some binos, find somewhere to sit and just watch deer being deer - that is invaluable for when you are planning when and where to shoot them. Good luck!

 

[WalkedUp]

That is reassuring to hear. Can I ask what your first steps were

Long and complex, much simpler now that I know the ropes. Do you have any experience with an air rifle, or working dogs etc? Someone will be local to you and able to help more but if you want to DM your number I’ll call you to run through. Simple steps… if you have a garden buy an air rifle from an RFD (registered firearm dealer) it is the same skill set largely, approach local shoots to beat on, research joining a rifle club, dsc1 is a great start, speak to a local clay ground about some lessons.

 

[jakedykes89]

Hey Jake. I also came in as a late starter with no background - it's a wonderful activity and utterly addictive. Personally I'd start with some learning. There are now so many ways of doing it, from paid courses, to the amazing app that a member on here has recently designed (First Light), to the old YouTube standard (worth looking at a few as some are better than others just as a word of caution) to going old school like I did and getting books out the library by the old and bold. Having some background knowledge makes the whole thing so much more interesting when you do get out on the ground. Also don't be too quick to take a rifle out - get out early and late just you and some binos, find somewhere to sit and just watch deer being deer - that is invaluable for when you are planning when and where to shoot them. Good luck!

Thank you so much for this

 

[bullet chucker]

Welcome to the site.

BC.

 

[Bowland blades]

Hi all and thank you in advance for the warm welcome. Im based in eccles in kent near Ayelsford. I have literally zero experience and would love to learn as much as I can but dont just want to pay for a day and that be all. I was just hoping for some advice to make my first steps into this world. With no knowledge and no contacts it seems so daunting and impossible to begin without judgment especially at 36 years old. I would be so grateful for any advice and guidance.

Thanks
Jake

Book with some different Guides and different trips / Quarry . Over time you will gather contacts

 

[fauxpas]

Hi all and thank you in advance for the warm welcome. Im based in eccles in kent near Ayelsford. I have literally zero experience and would love to learn as much as I can but dont just want to pay for a day and that be all. I was just hoping for some advice to make my first steps into this world. With no knowledge and no contacts it seems so daunting and impossible to begin without judgment especially at 36 years old. I would be so grateful for any advice and guidance.

Thanks
Jake

We're the same guy! I'm 35, no experience in Hampshire. I've browsed around, done some deer butchery, and recently booked my DSC1 for May.
From there I'm vaguely mulling over finding a rifle club or range where I can learn to shoot. Alongside that I'm hoping I'll make some contacts with people who like to shoot deer and they'll let me come out of them if I do/help with butchery. Failing that I'll look into doing a few paid stalks.

 

[WalkedUp]

It is really worth developing some rifle skills before the stalks too. If either of you were local to me I’d happily take you out with the syndicate lads. You both have the advantage of living in fantastic areas for deer.

 

[jakedykes89]

We're the same guy! I'm 35, no experience in Hampshire. I've browsed around, done some deer butchery, and recently booked my DSC1 for May.
From there I'm vaguely mulling over finding a rifle club or range where I can learn to shoot. Alongside that I'm hoping I'll make some contacts with people who like to shoot deer and they'll let me come out of them if I do/help with butchery. Failing that I'll look into doing a few paid stalks.

Yer im going to try a deer butchery course soon. Just to start something would u say its worth doing

 

[fauxpas]

It is really worth developing some rifle skills before the stalks too. If either of you were local to me I’d happily take you out with the syndicate lads. You both have the advantage of living in fantastic areas for deer.

I will upgrade my vague mulling to mulling over finding a rifle club or shooting range now haha.

Unfortunately I am really struggling to find contacts locally, I have had a few people like yourself say they would offer if I were closer haha.
I travel up to Lincolnshire once a month for a bushcraft course I'm doing so absolutely don't mind traveling if there's an experience on the other end!

 

[fauxpas]

Yer im going to try a deer butchery course soon. Just to start something would u say its worth doing

Absolutely. For me at least it feels like I can at least bring SOMETHING to the table if I eventually get to go out with someone, paid or otherwise, and help out with the grunt work

 

[HonestJohn]

Learn shooting skills and rifle handling. Learn to deliver a killing shot. Join a club, make friends with shooters, but learn to shoot.

You can practice stalking without a rifle, spend your evenings and weekends going stalking with a camera, that’s all you need to learn the fieldcraft skills!

Buy a deer off a local stalker and practice butchering.

Read and do your DSC1

Book some stalks, put it all into use

Apply for your FAC
Buy a 6.5 creed T3X because you want to be seen as cool

Don’t start by going into the field / booked stalks not knowing how to shoot, it’s not right for so many reasons, boils my p1ss every time I see complete beginners f&&k up a deer because the guide wanted the money and accepted zero experience.