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Best way to get into stalking?


ging125
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Hi all,

I have recently applied for a variation for a .243. Ticket should be back by end of week hopefully! Primarily it will be for foxin, i have asked for deer on it(unlikely to get it i know). However I am very keen to get into stalking but dont know where to start in this region, I want to do DSC 1 locally if possible but am I 'jumping the gun' so to speak? Do I need loads more experience?

 

I live near otley west yorkshire.

Any advice or recommendations on how to do this would be much appriciated.

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First you find a girl you REALLY like then find out where she lives . . . . :lol:

 

If you don't have land with deer on, which lets face it most people don't, then a good way to start is by taking the DSC1 course if you want to get some theoretical knowledge before you start. If you just want to jump straight into the 'practical' book an accompanied stalk on an estate/deer park. I imagine there'll be tons in your area, but if not there are plenty in the Lake district or further afield up here in the North-east.

 

If you're a memeber of BASC you could try them too. :good:

 

ATB

 

Mark

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Take your DSC1 and then look for a mentor who can take you out and show you the ropes . You will learn more from a good mentor than you will from reading books and research on the INTERNET . Some outfits will take a novice out stalking most likely from a high seat and using an estate rifle . Not the easiest section of shooting to get into ,but any body determined enough and keen enough will manage it . Whilst most farmers would be glad to allow you to shoot a shot gun on their land many will baulk at a novice shooting a centre fire rifle Willy nilly about the farm .

 

Harnser .

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You may have a problem getting the .243 for fox in the first place. West Yorks are funny about it, especially if you haven't already got deer available to you. I recommend you find a friendly farmer who is prepared to give you permission to shoot deer and go down that line for deer and fox rather than for fox and maybe deer later.

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Take your DSC1 and then look for a mentor who can take you out and show you the ropes . You will learn more from a good mentor than you will from reading books and research on the INTERNET . Some outfits will take a novice out stalking most likely from a high seat and using an estate rifle . Not the easiest section of shooting to get into ,but any body determined enough and keen enough will manage it . Whilst most farmers would be glad to allow you to shoot a shot gun on their land many will baulk at a novice shooting a centre fire rifle Willy nilly about the farm .

 

Harnser .

 

I wouldnt take the above advice untill you find out you like deer stalking,as its been mentioned book a day with YDS as hes in Yorkshire,has a lot of deer and will show you the basics.

But before you do that read up as much as you can about deer there is loads of info on the INTERNET which will help you then at least your not going into this totally blind.

if you decide you enjoy it your firearms dept may insist on you taking level 1,again there is a massive amount of information your can learn off the INTERNET towards passing it.

do as much research as you can mate,then when you go into the field then at least you have a small idea on what to expect or at least you will be able to identify and sex a deer

good luck

Edited by Ackley
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Thanks for all the advice! Think I will do a bit of background reading first! Have a friendly farmer who has signed permission to shoot deer (only a few) on his land but don't want to just do it without having a good knowledge of what I'm doing! Will make contact with YDS once I have finished financing the gun!

Can anyone recommend a competitively priced dsc 1 course?

Maf any more details on mirfield?

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Thanks for all the advice! Think I will do a bit of background reading first! Have a friendly farmer who has signed permission to shoot deer (only a few) on his land but don't want to just do it without having a good knowledge of what I'm doing! Will make contact with YDS once I have finished financing the gun!

Can anyone recommend a competitively priced dsc 1 course?

Maf any more details on mirfield?

 

Depends what you want from the DSC course? Do you want knowledge and training, or do you just want the qualification?

 

When I started out I was lucky enough to be taken out regularly, shooting my own rifle, by a friend who has been stalking for more than 30 years so I learned the ropes that way. I still did the DSC1 course, but I did it to have the qualification so it was purely as assessment through BASC for I think about £130. There are a couple of good DSC1 course handbooks out there that, frankly, have all the answers in them. I used one of these to swat up as the course contained no training, so if you are taking the course to equip yourself with knowledge prior to shooting deer a course offering a couple of days training would be better.

 

Better still, as suggested, get out there with someone who can show you the ropes and learn from practical experience.

 

Good luck :good:

Edited by WGD
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Depends what you want from the DSC course? Do you want knowledge and training, or do you just want the qualification?

 

When I started out I was lucky enough to be taken out regularly, shooting my own rifle, by a friend who has been stalking for more than 30 years so I learned the ropes that way. I still did the DSC1 course, but I did it to have the qualification so it was purely as assessment through BASC for I think about £130. There are a couple of good DSC1 course handbooks out there that, frankly, have all the answers in them. I used one of these to swat up as the course contained no training, so if you are taking the course to equip yourself with knowledge prior to shooting deer a course offering a couple of days training would be better.

 

Better still, as suggested, get out there with someone who can show you the ropes and learn from practical experience.

 

Good luck :good:

 

What was the name of the book?

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What was the name of the book?

I have a great little book I will try and dig out the title in a bit.

Also have a look here for some information http://www.bds.org.uk/

 

Found it.

It is dated, but in some ways that is good thing as there isn't the obsession with gadgets and 'tech' so it goes a long way towards de-mystifying the art.

 

Practical Deer-stalking by G Kenneth Whitehead ISBN 0-09-474030-5

Edited by Dunkield
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