Guidance for stalking and shooting services?

[dromia]

I have to confess I am no fan of the BDS either.

[Scotsgun]

plenty of providers here, also the forums in general have lots of info on about starting and what to look for etc, use the search function

Victim of its own success, unfortunately. The site started with some well meaning, knowledgable blokes who lived and breathed stalking. More and more joined, not enough controls were in place and those same guys were driven away by armchair warriors with absolutely no real stalking experience but had read every book Prior wrote and screamed about.

[kennyc]

plenty of providers here, also the forums in general have lots of info on about starting and what to look for etc, use the search function

Victim of its own success, unfortunately. The site started with some well meaning, knowledgable blokes who lived and breathed stalking. More and more joined, not enough controls were in place and those same guys were driven away by armchair warriors with absolutely no real stalking experience but had read every book Prior wrote and screamed about.

the info is still in there to be looked at, like all forums there are a few people who can ruin the experience for others and a few people who don't play well with others I have met a few of the members and stalked with several of them as well, just approach it as another web forum and use a bit of common sense, its a resource for people asking the basic questions .

[Robin128]

A case for buyer beware if ever I saw one.

Crooks in every business...some smoother than others no doubt.

:(

[The trakker]

Its very hard to descide what you get for your money. Some will pull down a stalk area, simply though lack of judgement,others will praise a single deer seen at 600yards ! I been doing this for sometime now & days vary, (just like fishing) some days you go out & see 2 to 8+ does in buck season & vise versa. The experienced know whats what , as they have the field craft & know of the population is resident, by tracks, & habitat. I have taken novices out with a great 90% sucess record, & the experienced with a less than 50/50 hunt. If you know the deer etc are there & the guide points you in the right direction or even better still accompanied you, he has the knowlege of the area & way the field lays, you have a better chance.
There are so many new to the stalking, they expect sometimes to see fields with deer , as if walking across the Yorkshire moors, & fields full of sheep. It just doent happen, timing, alertnes & been able to establish your shot at the blink of an eye helps, the more you get out there , the better the chance. Good luck.

[dodgyrog]

BASC is NOT the best source of information. If interested in beginnig deer stalking then join The British Deer Society. Once joined, you'll be passed to your regional club secretary. He'll invite you to monthly shoots, informative discussion evenings, training courses covering both firearms and deer...ultimately by socialising with the other members of your club will you make the contacts and gain the knowledge you seek.

BASC tries to cover all types of shooting which has resulted in a thin representation and some significant gauffs. BASC is not well considered amongst many deer stalkers and hunters.

Sorry, but my local branch of the BDS are worse than useless IMO. I left them ages ago.
To stalk, pay the money and get a Deer Stalking Certificate level 1. Others on here won't agree but it opens doors in terms of getting in syndicates.
To stalk deer will cost you a lot of money!

[Scotsgun]

To stalk, pay the money and get a Deer Stalking Certificate level 1. Others on here won't agree but it opens doors in terms of getting in syndicates.

You'll need to achieve lev 2 if intending to access most land syndicated, especdially that of the Forestry Commission, etc.

To stalk deer will cost you a lot of money!

There's still plenty of inexpensive or even free stalking to be had.