Over the past few years, there has been an ever-increasing use of observation units and thermal imagers for hunting in the shooting world. An array of well-known and not-so-well-known manufacturers are dipping their toes into the market and releasing models. As the landscape of the shooting industry changes, the need…
Deer stalking
Choosing riflescopes: what you should look out for
You don’t actually need much kit to go deerstalking. Binoculars to spot a beast and a rifle to bring it down are essential, but I would argue that choosing riflescopes is the most important part of the set-up. There’s a reason why most stalkers advise spending more on a scope…
Deer stalkers and walkers – how to deal with potential confrontations
Dealing with walkers?: While I was out stalking recently, I was accosted by a walker who let fly a torrent of abuse and accusations. This person accused me of "murdering beautiful creatures, ruining the countryside and posing a danger to honest walkers".
How to choose the right camouflage for deer stalking
Guests preparing for deer stalking often ask what kit they need, especially clothing. They ask whether they can wear camouflage. Usually the answer is yes, however some of the ground we stalk is on estates where the manager prefers us not to wear camouflage. (Read more on what to wear…
Deer stalking clothing: this is what to wear
One of the things I most enjoy about deer stalking is working with newcomers. Often these are people who have done a fair bit of game shooting or fishing but have decided it’s time to get into stalking properly. Inevitably, if you’re deciding to take up stalking or you’re keen…
The best trail cams for wildlife monitoring
Four sharp ‘pinks’ from a blackbird and she froze, ears strained, tongue flashing across her nose. Then she was off. A minute later an unfamiliar man lumbered into view, trampling clumsily through the thick bankside grass. The nearest footpath was a few hundred yards away. It was one of the…
Are these the best places to go stalking in Scotland?
I have to admit that I haven’t shot a red stag for years. These days, I tend to stalk hinds, for budgetary reasons. Yet money is a renewable resource, whereas time is not, so perhaps I should go to the hill for a stag while I still can. But if…
Shooting deer near houses. Is it legal?
Q: We’ve all heard of the proliferation of the deer population over the last few years. Where I live muntjac are starting to be a real nuisance in local gardens. My neighbours know that I go deer stalking and have asked me to come over to do something about controlling…
When do deer shed their antlers? Now is a good time to be looking.
Despite being in the depths of the close season, this time of the year offers deerstalkers something for nothing. By the end of April, most of our sika and red deer have thrown their antlers, with the fallow following suit a few weeks later, and there are few better ways…
How to build the perfect high seat
High seats feature in some of my most enduring stalking memories. With the safety of a permanent earthen backstop and the comfort and concealment that a high seat for shooting offers, it’s easy to see why elevated hunting blinds are enormously popular both in the UK and throughout much of…
Why do we keep deer heads?
Why do we prepare and keep the heads of the deer that we shoot? Why do we measure deer heads and treasure them in the way that we do? Since the dawn of time, hunters have retained the antlered heads of the deer that they have taken in the chase.…
Stalking Chinese water deer
Britain now has more than 15% of the world’s Chinese water deer population, but it is an exotic species native to China, eastern Asia, North Korea and South Korea. It was first introduced to the UK in 1873, when the deer were kept within zoos. They were released into parks…
What it means to be a professional stalker
I am stalking on the edge of the Breckland at Euston and following estate stalker Chris Rogers in pursuit of roe and muntjac. The two roe we are watching are almost hidden by the scrub. With their heads down it also hides us from them and we quietly close the…
English roe review 2020
The impact of COVID-19 on both professional and amateur hunters alike has been extraordinary. It is interesting that, despite the pandemic, we still evaluated 1,014 heads of all species last year compared with the 1,200 that we looked at in 2019. The courier business became an enabler for both hunters…
Scottish roe review 2020
Despite COVID-19, figures for the Scottish 2020 list are impressive. From more than 260 roe heads presented, 232 were awarded CIC medals — 61 golds, 65 silvers and 106 bronzes. An astounding 19 heads achieved a score in excess of 150 CIC points, the level considered to be the benchmark…
Do deer kill each other?
Last October I saw for the first time a battle between two big fallow bucks. The violence astonished me and makes me wonder how often they are killed?
Cull before the storm
‘‘For at least 20 years, deer stalking has been one of the brightest stars in the shooting firmament. Its rise has tracked the steady growth in the range and population of our six native or naturalised deer species and has effectively resulted in the establishment of a new fieldsport. Until…
“A love of the outdoors and a desire to be self-sufficient brought me to stalking”
Stevie was stuck; there was no getting around the soft ground so, to reach the deer, he had to go through it. The small hard composite pads on the end of his prosthetic legs sank in and the mud closed around them. Stevie gritted his teeth and pulled, pushing down…
How to create your own deer management plan
Deer management in any landscape requires a coordinated and well-thought-out plan. When it comes up in conversation, as it does more regularly than one would imagine, the viewpoint of those unfamiliar with deer management is more often than not, “Isn’t the aim simply to shoot as many as possible?” While…
Why sika deer are posing a threat to our native reds
Sika deer and Coco Chanel When I say ‘invasive non-native species’ the first thing to spring to your mind may be mink, the American signal crayfish or Rhododendron ponticum. It probably isn’t Coco Chanel. A keen angler and worthy of more Shooting Times column space than I can offer, Chanel…