My father's visiting with me this week to try and take his first turkey. I suggested a trip to Scotland for our next adventure and he's all in. Can't go this Summer as I'm headed back to Africa.

Looking for quotes (PM), suggestions, advice and the like. Here are the likely particulars:
- 4-5 travelers; 2 hunting (dad'll be 83 so let's leave out climbing for him) and not bringing rifles
- Stag would be great, but Roe Deer works if June/July is too early; European skull mounts
- Gotta do some whiskey tastings/visits (my father, I, and my son are fans)
- Visit to Old Castle Lachlan is a must; family ties and all

Whaddya say?

Hi,

You need to think a wee bit about seasons - I think you are saying you intend to go June or July? If that's the case it pretty well rules out a red stag - the season starts 1st July and they will be in velvet or tatters until mid August at best. Your father would also find hill stalking "challenging" at the very least. Generally the early stalking is for cull stags only - often by the pro stalkers themselves.

Its not a bad time for Roe if you can put off till the end of July - the rut. This is difficult to predict and always depends on weather but its a very exiting hunt to call them in and sometimes requires quick shooting! Both before and after the rut the bucks tend to hide and are often difficult to find. This is an easy enough hunt physically. If you want to hunt the rut you may need to book a fair way in advance - last week July and first week August may tend to get booked first.

In terms of where to hunt this could be almost anywhere - your wish to visit Castle Lachlan - http://www.castlelachlan.com/ could easily enough be worked into this. There is plenty of good stalking in this area and a bit further west - sorry I don't have any recommendations. These coastal areas of Argyll are pretty rough wet ground but very pretty - though if you are looking for record book trophies the drier eastern side of the country is a better bet (Fife, Angus, Perthshire, Aberdeenshire, etc) though there are no absolutes.

It will definitely be easier to use an "estate rifle" - but make sure you let this be known in advance.

You might also want to think of Islay or Mull - also good for distilleries! We're not short in that department here but they are not evenly distributed - a quick google will show you where.

One issue you may have is the weather - in the west of Scotland it tends to vary from wet to really wet. Be prepared.

You might want to have a quick look at - https://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/forum.php
for some ideas.

Most red stag hunts in continental Europe start in late August. Rut is usually in September plus or minus a couple weeks.

Farther south the later that is, farther north the earlier.

Matt,

Drop me an email. I have a week in the highlands available in the third week of Sep-2019 including 5 days hunting. It is a perfect location for you to hunt together in a traditional estate.

There are options on roe as well depending on your dates.

I'm at kiri@athinasporting.com

Best regards,
Kiri

.

September !!!

.

Sorry I should have clarified.

Red stags don’t come into season in Scotland until July but at that point they will probably still be in velvet rather and possibly not fully grown. Hence my point that September is the best time for stags.

With regards to the roe, July can be amazing if you hit the rut. Otherwise chose your location well because if you have low ground forestry you could see the animals, if you have heath land like our estates, they are tough to spot unless they are com8ng to the call strongly. This is because the bracken can be 8feet tall.

Kuwinda’s advice is spot on. We have a couple of estates that can provide the bucks for you in Galloway and Deeside. Personally I would recommend deeside for a couple of bucks each and some awesome sight seeing. There’s nothing quite like hunting as the queens neighbour!!

K

Thanks for the responses gents. I should've been more clear in my original post, but I'm tied by work to a June/July hunt as my "retirement job" is that of high school teacher and it's my Summer vacation.

I've been offered a continuation contract and have until 10 May to accept or reject it. I'll either have more money or more time...

Kiri - I'll shoot you a PM.

Matt,

I've sent you an email, for 2019 there is a location that we could shoot a few bucks and get some great sight seeing in July.

Rgds,
K