Heading off to stalk red stags in Scotland is a bucket-list experience for most stalkers. One of the country’s most majestic animals, the red deer is Scotland’s largest native land mammal and one of its most sought-after sporting trophies. The majority are found in the Scottish Highlands and islands, and there is a wide variety of stalking ground…
Deer Stalking
Shooting deer near houses. Is it legal?
Deer have moved into my area and are coming into the garden, damaging plants and vegetables. How high a fence will I need to keep the little ******* out?
Remington AWR stalking rifle
I decided to try out the Remington American Wilderness Rifle (AWR) while roe stalking in Scotland, and in Argyll at this time of year you can usually count on one of two things — that it is midge ridden or blowing a hoolie with rain. Guess what? The temperature was…
How to pass your DSC1
Charles Smith-Jones tells you how to prepare yourself to pass your DSC1 and face the assessments with confidence
How to be a deer stalker
I have just passed my DSC Level 1 and want to progress and learn more about deer. Would it help if I joined one of the specialist groups and, if so, which should it be – the British Deer Society or the St. Hubert Club?
Stalking muntjac – a real sporting challenge
The diminutive muntjac deer arrived in Britain in 1900 as a plaything of the 11th Duke of Bedford who added it to his deer park at Woburn Abbey. Rumour has it that the Duke was so fond of this little species that he engineered a series of clandestine releases, driving…
English and Welsh roe review 2017 and other species
The CIC’s trophy measuring system has had another good year. Newly qualified UK measurers got into their stride throughout 2017 at home and at shows around the country. And senior members of the UK Trophy Evaluation Board (TEB) attended the International TEB in Budapest last September to assess, along with…
Mauser M12 Impact
Mauser knows what real shooters want from a rifle. The Impact is not only a premium sporting arm at a great price but its overall design of stainless-steel metalwork and synthetic stock also makes it a superb all-rounder for any game, target, weather or range. That may sound a bit…
What’s the right cartridge for red deer?
Deer stalking: I plan to get involved in deer stalking on my father’s farm and two neighbouring Estates where there are Roe, Fallow and a few Sika. Can you recommend a calibre that will cope equally well with all three species?
Should deer stalkers have to be qualified?
Soon after I accepted my first invitation to shoot in Germany, a small package arrived. Inside were the instructions and forms required before I would be allowed to join the shoot. These included letters proving insurance, in both English and German, passport photos, copies of a firearms licence and a…
2018 deer seasons
Red deer England and Wales: Aug 1-April 30 (stags) Nov 1 – Mar 31 (hinds) Scotland: July 1-Oct 20 (stags) Oct 21-Feb 15 (hinds) Northern Ireland: Aug 1-April 30 (stags) Nov 1-March 31 (hinds) Sika deer England and Wales: Aug 1-April 30 (stags) Nov 1 – March 31 (hinds)…
A deerstalker was doing something completely legal. So why were the police called?
There will be exceptions, but most countryside and wildlife police officers that I’ve come across have gained the trust of many shooters. The best appreciate that the support of the shooting community is key to their role. And the effective ones use a quality too often lacking in job descriptions…
How to get into shooting
If you are looking to get into shooting of any kind, this easy guide will give you plenty of hints and tips
Tikka T3X Lite in .222 Remington
I tested the stainless steel .243 version of this new model of the iconic Tikka last year when it was launched but I wanted to test the entry-level version, too, which is, let’s face it, the industry standard when it comes to a fox/deer rifle. If you have £1,000 in…
How do you carry a rifle when woodland stalking?
What is the best way to carry a rifle when woodland deer stalking?
Why can’t we shoot deer after dark?
As a wildfowler I am allowed to shoot duck and geese under the moon and I can also shoot rabbits, foxes and wild boar at night. Is there some reason why we can't shoot deer after dark?
Rigby Highland Stalker
Classic Rigbys these days go for large sums of money, combining the charm of yesteryear and the very best in English quality styling, fit and finish with the precision-engineering metal components made by Mauser. This partnership was formed in the early 1900s and it works just as well today. Three…
How many points?
A: There are many variables which impact on the number of points, or tines on stag antlers, that individual stags will develop. These include the animal’s genetics, the environment it lives in and its access to good nutrition. Genetics, nutrition and environment Wild European red deer, of which our natives are a subspecies, rarely exceed 16 points…
On test: Schultz & Larsen Legacy .223
Schultz & Larsen (S&L) comes from Denmark and has a long history of making precision rifles and barrels. It has become a household name for its excellent cut rifled barrels and its new CNC machinery produces quality at an a ordable price. Schultz & Larsen offers a good range for stalking rifles and this Legacy model is designed for…