This might take the form of land you
have permission from the owner to use,
or that has been set aside for commer-
cial deer hunting (an estate), where you
pay the owner an amount per animal
or per day. Smaller but similar might
be a stalker who owns their own land
and hires it out to shooters. Quite
often trophy and guide fees are added
on top of that. And though the majority
of stalkers own their own rifles, you
don’t need one, as if you decide to go
to an estate you can hire a gun and
ammunition from them.
Species wise we have Red, Sika,
Fallow, Roe, Muntjac and Chinese
Water Deer, with only the Red and Roe
being true native animals. The rest have
been imported over the years, some
as ornamental animals for deer parks,
others for hunting. A good example
might be the Fallow, which is said to
have been brought over after the
Norman conquest of 1066. We also
have one hybrid animal the Red/Sika
cross, depending on your location and
view point these are seen by many as
vermin that’s weakening the traditional
Red deer strain due to inter breeding.
Hence in England and Wales there’s
no closed season on this species.
The Red stag is perceived as the most
sought after trophy animal in the UK and
people will pay a lot of money to go up
to Scottish highlands for the pleasure
of a stalk up on the hills and heather.
Stalking can be hard up there with
potentially long shots and a good deal
of crawling and climbing to get into
position due to the lack of cover.
However and despite their apparent
reputation, the Scottish Red is not as
big as you might imagine ; certainly in
comparison to southern Reds who have
better grazing on arable crops. Whereas
their fodder is of a much lower quality.
Down in Anglia a good Red Hind that’s
been feeding on root crops will often
match the weight of a supposedly big
Scottish stag.
Fallow, which is a medium sized
animal tend to be gregarious and also
migratory. Herds of between 20-40 are
reasonably common. Striking too are
the melonistic strain, which can be in
some cases pure black, which makes
for a very impressive animal and trophy.
Roe tend to move in smaller groups
with a buck and a few does, at some
times, or does and their young at others.
Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer are
more singular by nature and are encoun-
tered more in thick woodland than in
the open. Whatever, it’s not about size
and antler, as all species will give you
a decent and challenging hunt.
There is wild boar in the UK and they
are hunted, though they are not that
widespread, but they are breeding and
expanding at a rate. And in the not so
distant future they will probably become
a quarry species like deer.
Hunting in the UK is done a lot from
high seats, which is a highly practical
method. Firing downwards gives you a
safe backstop, so the seats can be sited
in areas where a horizontal shot might
not be safe. Plus and usually on estates
they can be positioned overlooking
where the deer will appear to feed, so
very much guaranteeing the client the
possibility of an animal. But there is also
a lot of foot stalking if you prefer the
thrill of the chase. But both methods
have there plus and minus points.
However, shooting deer from a vehicle
is not allowed, nor is taking them at
night with a lamp. Though it is possible
to apply for a night shooting licence,
but not for sporting purposes, only if
you need to cull for reasons of over-
population of excessive crop damage.
But for the sports shooter deer hunting
is dawn to dusk only. Also no shot may
be taken within 100-yards of a road,
for safety reasons.
Terrain-wise the UK has a lot to offer
with woods, moorland, forests, hills and
even mountains. Shots can be close up
or long range, with the more experienced
seeing 300-400-yards as an acceptable
distance. Like the Europeans and
Americans we hunt in all weathers
and seasons ; so be prepared …
Legal requirements are simple as to
the rifle and ammunition, it has to be
a Centrefire calibre and a minimum of
6 mm and able to produce a minimum
muzzle energy of 1700 ft/lbs. And the
bullet must be of the expanding type –
soft point, hollow point or ballistic tip.
For most entry-level stalkers the top
choice is either 243 or 308 Winchester.
Also popular though perhaps less
prolific are 6.5 x 55 mm Swedish, 30-06
Springfield and to a lesser degree 270
Winchester. Any and all of these are
more than capable of taking a big Red
stag ; given correct bullet placement and
choice. You also see a few 25-06s and
even 7 x 57 mm Mauser etc and the
308-based calibres like 260 Remington
or 7 mm-08 Remington are becoming
more popular.
Currently there is one exception to
the 6 mm/1700 ft/lb law and that’s
in Scotland where you are allowed to
take smaller species like Roe with a 22
Centrefire. Here calibres like 222, 223
and 22-250 Remington and to a lesser
degree 220 Swift are favoured. Current-
ly this is not allowed in England or Wales
who still operate the 6 mm minimum.
However, this might change in the near
future with Roe, Muntjac and Chinese
Water Deer allowed to be taken with a
22 Centrefire.
For example in the USA you would buy a deer tag, which allowed you
to hunt one animal only. Technically the amount of animals you can
shoot here is limitless ; though and as ever good sense, opportunity
and moderation prevail. And all you need is a place to shoot and per-
mission to do so.
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