newbie at this

[cassshantia 16]

ive got the fac ,rifle and land now s the big question what do i need to do to get the best results possible ?

do i go alone and figure it out myself or go with experience to start with ?

as a newbie i would like to buddy up with someone (preferably)but some times people cant go with you because of work committments.

distance ,kill zone is my worry so really ive answered my own question but

how did you lot out there start ? can you really start from the beginning on your tod

[Fidgety 8]

I'd get some accompanied stalks before you go it alone .... There is a regular contributor on here from up your way

http://www.yorkshiredeerstalking.com/ may be able to help. DSC1 will also be useful!

[HUnter_zero 58]

can you really start from the beginning on your tod

 

There is no simple answer to this question. You say that you have an FAC, with deer as a condition and that you have land to stalk deer on. I have to admit my mind is boggled to have exactly you have done all this with out knowing exactly what your doing, not an easy task if you have many years of experience, so I tip my hat to you.

Shooting a deer is the easy part, most any half witted rifle shooter can hit a 6" kill zone at 100 yards.

The hard part is choosing the right deer to shoot and dealing with the deer after you have shot it.

Choosing the right deer is complicated and based on your management goals, habitat and all sorts.

I started on reds and am very happy I had an experienced stalker with me, I would have never been able to deal with the gralloch, skinning and butchering. My very first deer was one hell of a red hind, I'm not a small chap and spend my days out of doors running around in a fairly physical job but had no chance in hell of moving this deer on my own. There are many things you need to get ready before you even think about shooting a deer, for example a larder or place to hang the deer until you can skin and butcher. Tools to cut the carcass. Kit to extract the deer. Blood trays for your car. Having shot a big beast in the height of summer with blue bottle filling every nook and cranny, you really need to act fast and be ready, there is no second chances. The gralloch needs to be carried out correctly and cleanly, depending on which species of deer you are to stalk will depend up on how much meat this will yield, in the case of red deer that means a whole lot of meat. Four reds, means that Mrs H_Z and I do not have to buy Beef for a whole year, supplementing our meat eating with rabbit, pigeons, game and lamb (Mrs H_Z will not do with out lamb).

You can of course sell the carcass to a game dealer but need to be qualified to do so.

I think with your obvious determination, you would stand a good chance on your own but would find it hard. I am sure there are a lot of people on the Internet that would be more than willing to help you and show you the ropes. Good luck.

 

John

Edited March 21, 2010 by HUnter_zero

[flytie 1]

ive got the fac ,rifle and land now s the big question what do i need to do to get the best results possible ?

do i go alone and figure it out myself or go with experience to start with ?

as a newbie i would like to buddy up with someone (preferably)but some times people cant go with you because of work committments.

distance ,kill zone is my worry so really ive answered my own question but

how did you lot out there start ? can you really start from the beginning on your tod

Cass, I think you would be better trying to find a mentor who will come out with you, or buy a few days out with a professional. There is only so much you can learn by books and DVD's.

 

I was fortunate and had four stalkers (only one was a full time stalker) take me under their collective wings. I was allowed to gralloch, under supervision, 10 roe and a munty before I ever used a rifle on deer. We also did carcass preperation.

 

Unfortunately it is the end of the doe cull so your opportunities are slightly more limited. It is a great time of year to be out with stalkers who need to meet their quota, and are really glad of any help in the larder too.

 

I wish you all the best, ft.

[Treacle Trackpad 6]

I don't think going it alone and learning by trial and error (which is what it will be) is the best approach. Cram as much information into yourself as possible and then go out with an experienced stalker, you will find the penny dropping fast and often, and it is easier to learn if you have done all the reading previously. DSC courses are a good start and are quickly becoming prerequisites for certain stalking opportunities. You can't beat face to face knowledge transfer though, but if you if you are going to pay for it be prepared to dig deep

[cassshantia 16]

hi hunter zero

when i applied for my fac i put down the .22 .17hmr and .243 all on the land i shoot pheasants in a syndicate ,the land had already been passed for deer management even though ive no experience if they wont give you it where will i get it from also its an open ticket so im very lucky indeed(north yorkshire police very good for this ) i want to manage the deer not wipe them out so 3 tops a year will be my limits probably and the odd fox what gets passed the neighbouring keepered land

i just need guide lines so if and when the task arrives i will be confident to pull the trigger

[HUnter_zero 58]

 

i just need guide lines so if and when the task arrives i will be confident to pull the trigger

 

As long as you have "deer" shooting / stalking on your FAC you are legal to shoot deer.

Managing deer is a little complicated and to be honest before you can learn to make a cull plan you will need to gain a few years experiance. One or ten deer will not wipe numbers out, it all depends on why you are shooting the deer. For example crop protection or income or even for food. You need to practice with that rifle, make sure you can hit the mark! Practice, Practice and practice a bit more. The main problem is bdealing with the beast afterwards, you really need to be shown how to do this and how to do it correctly. Shooting deer isn't like a fox, you can not just leave a deer in a hedge.

Take your time, learn the ropes and don't rush in to anything.

 

John

[cassshantia 16]

thanks for all your info and comments much appreciated

[HUnter_zero 58]

thanks for all your info and comments much appreciated

 

Good luck & take your time. Apart from Roe buck next month deer season is all but gone, so this is a great time to sort out your larder and equipment. I'll be repainting mine next month and checking the pully and gambrel are all okay. I'll deforst my upright freezer and check my butchers block is still solid, repair as needed. The mincer and saw will have a once over. Then you have your high seats to replace or repair if needed. This year I will be installing deer feeders for the first time, so I have that to sort out. The roll on the summer months when I can get up the out door range and do some load testing, which reminds me my range fees are due next month.

 

John

Edited March 22, 2010 by HUnter_zero