Starting deer stalking

[artschool]

I have a .223 conditioned for fox on a none open ticket(land to be cleared by plod).

 

I am toying with the idea of maybe looking into some deer stalking, but am not sure where to begin.

 

Do I need a dsc1? Could I get my Fao to amend the condition on my fac?

 

Do I need to travel to Scotland or is there somewhere in the north west?

 

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated

[al4x]

do some paid stalks and use an estate rifle for the moment. Then you will gain some experience and not have to be limited to muntjacs and roe north of the border.

[kent]

I have a .223 conditioned for fox on a none open ticket(land to be cleared by plod).

 

I am toying with the idea of maybe looking into some deer stalking, but am not sure where to begin.

 

Do I need a dsc1? Could I get my Fao to amend the condition on my fac?

 

Do I need to travel to Scotland or is there somewhere in the north west?

 

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated

 

.223 aint legal unless you do Roe in Scotland or CWD and Muntjac in England and wales (non in North west). If you want to try that gun your best bet is to book some stalking in South West Scotland for Roe. Mostly these days to stalk alone you need a level 1 but there is no law as such. Most pay for the day stalking venues will require you to be acompanied and this is generally included in the cost of the day. Somwere around £50 per stalk, with one early morning and another in the evening is normal ie £100 a day. carcass is genrally ontop of that if you want it- trophy fees might also be added be carefull a big buck can cost a lot! some will not charge trophy fees though they might not want master bucks shot (basically good management). I shouldn't bother booking Stalking in the North of England as Generally its better and Cheaper north of the border and you can use your own gun.

[artschool]

.223 aint legal unless you do Roe in Scotland or CWD and Muntjac in England and wales (non in North west). If you want to try that gun your best bet is to book some stalking in South West Scotland for Roe. Mostly these days to stalk alone you need a level 1 but there is no law as such. Most pay for the day stalking venues will require you to be acompanied and this is generally included in the cost of the day. Somwere around £50 per stalk, with one early morning and another in the evening is normal ie £100 a day. carcass is genrally ontop of that if you want it- trophy fees might also be added be carefull a big buck can cost a lot! some will not charge trophy fees though they might not want master bucks shot (basically good management). I shouldn't bother booking Stalking in the North of England as Generally its better and Cheaper north of the border and you can use your own gun.

 

thanks, that sounds like good advice. surely i will still need to change the condition on my fac?

 

that level of money is all i am looking to spend at the moment.

[al4x]

Yes you need deer as a condition which comes with it possible mentors and DSC requirements. To start you are far better shooting an estate rifle which you can do with no issues. If you get on well then you have experience to justify the condition on your rifle or a larger caliber legal on all deer

Edited July 6, 2011 by al4x

[artschool]

Yes you need deer as a condition which comes with it possible mentors and DSC requirements. To start you are far better shooting an estate rifle which you can do with no issues. If you get on well then you have experience to justify the condition on your rifle or a larger caliber legal on all deer

that makes sense alex.

[kent]

thanks, that sounds like good advice. surely i will still need to change the condition on my fac?

 

that level of money is all i am looking to spend at the moment.

 

Yes you should, but it won't be an issue if you have a booking and practically all let stalking venues have been inspected to 30 cal. Like AL4x says you can often use an estate rifle but to me thats like catching a fish on someonelse's fishing rod.

[artschool]

Yes you should, but it won't be an issue if you have a booking and practically all let stalking venues have been inspected to 30 cal. Like AL4x says you can often use an estate rifle but to me thats like catching a fish on someonelse's fishing rod.

I would much prefer to use my own gun.

[njc110381]

I'm told the .223 does a great job of Roe. Never been anywhere to try it myself but I know people who have.

 

I suggest you book a couple of stalks and use the invoices to have the conditions changed on your FAC. Shoot a few Roe north of the border with the rifle you have, take lots of pictures and keep notes of your days and then use that as evidence to get a bigger rifle later if you want to.

 

I made the mistake of trying to get one rifle to do two jobs. I suggest if you do decide to take up Deer stalking that you keep the .223 and get something else bigger. .308 is pretty good if you're on a budget as there are loads of second hand rifles about, they don't wear barrels too fast and they'll do the trick with ease on any UK species.

[al4x]

Yes you should, but it won't be an issue if you have a booking and practically all let stalking venues have been inspected to 30 cal. Like AL4x says you can often use an estate rifle but to me thats like catching a fish on someonelse's fishing rod.

 

 

It is indeed but it does get you an idea if its a side of the sport you are going to get into and give you a lot more bargaining power when you go for a deer caliber. If there are plenty of munties round you then it should be fairly simple to get them added and find some stalking. Of you've got to drive miles or to Scotland to use it then the costs just keep adding up.

The other option is a variation for a .243 and you choose whether to keep the .223 or just have the one gun for the moment then try and get deer added. I went down this route and have a simple accompanied condition which is fine as so far I've always been accompanied as its a learning curve and the more people you go out with the more you learn. Its only accompanied for Deer so gets plenty of use on foxes etc and all you get is a bigger bang than the .223 and a bigger choice of bullets to use. If you use a deer bullet on deer then meat damage isn't bad.