Many people who stalk have completed the British Deer Society’s Deer Stalking Certificate at level one and two.
This offers useful training and knowledge but a formal qualification isn’t needed to go stalking. However deer stalking is a complex sport, requiring skills and understanding of natural history, legislation, firearms, health and safety and butchery.
So after you’ve learned more about it, how can you get out into the field and find somewhere to stalk?
How do you go about getting a permission to shoot deer on land?
If you are a competent stalker, speak and/or write to local landowners, farmers and foresters to see if they need help with deer management.
When you get a stalking permission keep the land owner or farmer in the loop. It might be a catch-up in the farmyard after a morning’s stalk or a text or phone call. Some people like formal email or letter at the end of the season with a report on how the stalking has been that year.
You can also discover stalking opportunities on the Deer Stalking Directory
If you are new to stalking, then it’s worth investigating the stalking schemes run by BASC local to you. These will help you to make contact with local stalkers, learn more about your local stalking habitat and you will also be taught more about the practical aspects of getting close and shooting deer in the company of a professional and knowledgeable stalker.
Is it down to how many deer need to be culled or is it done on acreage?
If the landowner wants his deer controlled and you want some stalking, a fair system would be based on sharing the venison or its value on a 50-50 basis.
If you take all the venison, then you pay the landowner half its value. If you also intend to make money from the enterprise by taking out paying guests, then matters are somewhat different and you will need to have a suitable agreement with the landowner; perhaps that you take the stalking fee and he receives the trophy fee.
Under such circumstances, the landowner may simply want a fixed annual return and you will have to decide just what it is worth to you.
Much depends on how far you have to travel to and from your stalking; how many deer will or might need to be culled and an estimate of the value of the venison.
The Tikka T3 is probably the best-selling stalking rifle in the UK today. It’s earned a reputation as being dependable (pictured Tikka T3X Lite)
Once you’ve got your permission, what rifle should you use? And what about ammunition?
You can start by reading this useful guide on rifles for deer stalking, with both new and second-hand options, that have ranked highly with our gun reviewers.
You will also need to have a valid firearms licence and a safe place in which to store your rifle and ammunition.
The rifle you choose will depend on the quarry you are planning to shoot and the calibre you need for the species. For example, if you will be stalking muntjac and Chinese water deer, a .22 centrefire, a .222, a .223 or .22-250 would be fine. If you have the chance at roe as well, then legally in England and Wales you need to start at 0.240 minimum calibre.
You’ll also need a scope for your rifle. Here are some of the ones our reviewers have looked at and recommended.