Introduction to Deer Stalking
Anyone who has
visited the shop will soon realise that all of us here at Simpson Brothers are
avid deer stalkers. We are often asked how to get involved in this somewhat
secretive world so have put some links together to help guide those wanting to
start stalking themselves.
Most people start
stalking after being invited out by friends or family, but not everyone has
that ability. You will need experience and reason to shoot before being granted
your Firearms Certificate – so where do you get that experience when you don’t
have a rifle?
1 on 1 Training
A newcomer to
stalking should undertake from proper rifle tuition to ensure safe and humane
shooting. Tuition specific to deer stalking should cover shooting from any
positions that you may have to in the field. Quad sticks and high seats are
hugely popular in lowland areas but if you go up to the highlands you may need
to shoot of a bipod instead. Practising these positions should be done at
targets first.
We run two courses that would help anyone interested in deer stalking;
This is a half day experience
for someone who is interested in stalking but has never been before! It’s a no
pressure experience to see whether this really is something you would like to
pursue.
Spend time with
Andy, our trainer and riflesmith as he shows you the world of deer management. A
guided walk through woodland to explain why we manage deer, whilst being shown
signs of deer activity and damage. Explore the different ways that management
is undertaken and the safety implications required. After this you will have
time to try some of the equipment used, from binoculars to shooting sticks and you
will be able to shoot a deer legal calibre at targets. Finally you will shadow
Andy whilst he stalks. Put everything you have learnt into practise and
hopefully get to witness Andy successfully cull a deer. If everything goes well
you will get shown how to gralloch and handle the carcass- you can help as much
or as little as you want!
This day is designed
for those who want to gain experience with shooting rifles.
This is a half day
of rifle shooting. Each course can be tailored to the individual but if
stalking is your interest, then you will be using equipment specific to deer control.
You will cover all safety aspects of stalking, from rifle handling to assessing
safe shots. Starting with a .22lr you will be taught the fundamentals of making
the perfect shot. As you progress you will move up to a .223 then 6.5 centrefire
rifles. These will be shot to 100m from a variety of positions you could
potentially use in the field. You will also have the chance to use different
equipment such as bipods and quad sticks.
We also run the following group courses;
-Venison butchery - How
to get the most out of your hunt. From skinning to breaking down ready for the
freezer. Includes half a carcass to take home with you (once you have butchered
it!)
-Reloading (rifle
ammunition) -Want to start making your own ammunition? This will give you the
right foundations and help you get started.
For more information
on the above courses please contact us on 01832 226376 or info@simpsonbrothersgunshop.com
The BDS are the
main charitable organisation in the UK that solely focus on deer and deer
management. They support and fund research and monitoring of deer and organise
training and education for stalkers. They have a huge wealth of resources
available on their website and are a great point of contact for new stalkers
and experienced alike.
The Deer Management Qualification
The DMQ run qualifications with the aim to improve knowledge and skill amongst stalkers. The Deer Stalking Certificates test identification skills carcass handling, safe shooting, legislation and biology knowledge. They are often a requirement to join stalking syndicates.
Wild Deer Best Practice Guidance
This website is an incentive by Nature Scot to spread information to stalkers in Scotland in order to raise standards across the industry. There is a huge amount of information on here, and whilst written for Scottish stalkers, is applicable to stalking across the UK. Well worth looking at no matter what experience you have.