Help On Starting Up

[timmy k 591]

Hi all, I'm looking for advice, I've just got my sgc and am looking to get a fac for stalking, with no land to get passed I was going to go on paid stalks, but am in a bit of confusion, their is a fair amount of places to go but how do you sort the wheat from the chaff. I'm already on the stalking directory but ideally I'd want to do more than just shoot a beast with a guide, things like field prep, butchering the carcass, health checks and all the other stuff that goes on with stalking but is seldom thought of by a newbie. Ideally a mentor would be the way but I understand fully the reluctance of an experienced stalker to take out someone they don't know who could turn out to be a complete tool, so with cost and learning in mind is their any places that can be recommended, I'm not really bothered about those trophy bucks/stags, culls would be fine as that is part of learning deer management. Thanks in advance any advice will be took on board.

[AThomas 32]

The SD has a load of decent reputable guides on their,who will no doubt try their best to get you onto a beast.You can even get a taster type day,or introduction to stalking type day's going through shot placement,deer identification,rifle safety awareness,and graloching,as well as butchering you're beast if your lucky to grass one.

 

I can pm you some decent guides who I have confidence in,and been with before,you could use their estate rifle facilities until you're sorted,which also adds to build towards your own portfolio when applying for you're FAC.

[timmy k 591]

That would be great aThomas if you could pm me details, what prices are reasonable? I've seen a few that go for £70 but I'm not sure if theirs hidden costs, I don't want to budget for something and then realise that I'm way off mark. Also when looking into hidden cost they say you have to pay for lost deer, that's understandable because they make money from the venison but they also charge for damaged meat, what do they mean by damaged meat? Surely any chest shot could be seen to be damaged meat, so does that mean only neck or head shots allowed? I don't think I'd be confident taking them shots especially with the smaller deer species or am I wrong.

[AThomas 32]

There should be no hidden fee with whoever you choose to go with.

You need to make sure you're happy with their fees,and that you understand them all,generally there very few chancres out there,who would be quick to try and take the piss.

An outing fee i would expect to pay in the region of £70- per outing,so that's either a morning or evening,3-4hrs ish.

Some charge for cull animals,while others include in the price,and others charge a flate rate fee for bucks with x no of points per antler.

The damaged venison is usually if you shoot it in the haunch, or in the guts,as you say the loss of revenue from the venison sale would be down to you,and would render the beast more or less unsaleable,you'e probably have to buy it should you shoot it in the arse.

A typical roe carcass would cost you around £30-40,so roughly speaking one outing on roe bucks,with 1 animal shot might cost you say £100-120 which includes the carcass.

 

Also,i would try and measure the outcome of the stalk on whether or not you get a beast,you'll learn a lot from someone who doe's it for a living,and shooting a beast is a bonus.

 

Like I said,there are some twats out there who'd try and skin newcomers,but you can only kill a sheep once,thos guys are found out quickly.

[Skull Hooker 185]

Have you tried to get any sort of training beforehand? If not, why don't you do your DSC1? I found it helpful when learning about shot placement, distance judgement, species ID, gralloching etc. The qualification may go some way to enabling to get your FAC as well

[timmy k 591]

I thought about doing the dsc1 but I'd prefer to do a few stalks first to make sure it's for me, and me personally I prefer to learn hands on rather than in a class room, I take it in more and remember it. I understand as well about maybe not shooting anything, but as long as I'm learning stuff it's all relevant.

[Philluk 181]

The SD has a load of decent reputable guides on their,who will no doubt try their best to get you onto a beast.You can even get a taster type day,or introduction to stalking type day's going through shot placement,deer identification,rifle safety awareness,and graloching,as well as butchering you're beast if your lucky to grass one.

 

I can pm you some decent guides who I have confidence in,and been with before,you could use their estate rifle facilities until you're sorted,which also adds to build towards your own portfolio when applying for you're FAC.

It also has load of knobs as well, paid stalking is like playing roulette, the banker wins most of the time, there is one certain person who always advertises "unlimited" fallow stalking, how can anyone have unlimited is beyond me, but then to take people drop them off in a high seat or hedge row for 3-4 hrs go and sit in your car for the period then go and pick them up.

 

If anyone wants to pay me £70 I have plenty of hedges they can sit in.

 

If you want to do it properly DSC is a start, deer management is not just pulling a trigger, it's studying, checking, protecting, all things you need to do as well have land to Zero a rifle, you also need experience on rifles, most start small and get bigger with guns and land. Whilst not everyone has the luxury of land on their door step there is a lot more to it and suggest you use this site or one of the many face book sites and find someone local to see if they will let you go with them.

[scraggoak 46]

I Agree with Philluk that Dsc1 is the way to go. But unlimited Fallow stalking is exactly that, it means that if you shoot an animal in the first five minutes you can carry on shooting at no extra cost, Simple,

Edited August 7, 2015 by scraggoak

[timmy k 591]

I have no problem doing the dsc but I would prefer to have a few stalks first, all the gear no idea comes to mind. Sitting in a classroom is not my idea of fun or learning but I understand it has to be done at some stage, ask anyone who's took an apprentice on they don't know a thing most of them because it's all been in books, hands on experience is best In my opinion

[J Darcy 5,871]

I have no problem doing the dsc but I would prefer to have a few stalks first, all the gear no idea comes to mind. Sitting in a classroom is not my idea of fun or learning but I understand it has to be done at some stage, ask anyone who's took an apprentice on they don't know a thing most of them because it's all been in books, hands on experience is best In my opinion

Hi TimmyK, the DSC is not mandatory. Some forces like you to have it but it is not a legal stipulation.

You're doing the right thing gaining experience, just don't get ripped off as there's lots of unscrupulous people out there that will charge you the earth for nothing. What area are you in? There might be a member that is willing to take you out for free if you buy them breakfast ....

[Philluk 181]

I Agree with Philluk that Dsc1 is the way to go. But unlimited Fallow stalking is exactly that, it means that if you shoot an animal in the first five minutes you can carry on shooting at no extra cost, Simple,

Yes understand that but it still can't be unlimited,

[timmy k 591]

Darcy I've had some great offers from members of here, their names I'll keep confidential for their own sake, but you know who you are so a public thank you to the kind hearted souls and I hope to learn a lot from you.and I'm in liverpool not really the deer stalking Mecca of the British Isle.

Edited August 8, 2015 by timmy k

[scraggoak 46]

Philuk

 

Unlimited means exactly that, a client can shoot as many cull animals as his luck, skill, location, and time, allows, We have had several occasions where clients have shot three in a day, one client shot three within five minutes of arriving on site, We have also had a few blank days, but that's stalking for you.

[Philluk 181]

So I've paid for unlimited and 2 big old bucks come out as its rutting and are fighting there are only 2 of these in the area and I shoot them both is this acceptable?

[scraggoak 46]

No, as you well know These would not be considered cull animals, only Does, Prickets, and Sorrels, The advert that i think you are referring to on SD site clearly states UNLIMITED CULL ANIMALS, But i think we are getting off topic and this is not really helpful to TIMMY K