Just returned from a week long hunt with Mike in the Scottish Highlands. What a great experience. After a hearty 8:00 breakfast we chased stag high on the hills. Very challenging stalking. One stag was taken after a two mile stalk. Damp rainy windy weather added to the challenge and the charm. An easier early morning or late evening hunt can be arranged too. My Kuiu Yukon layered suit with gaiters was a perfect outfit. Bring Avon Skin So Soft for the midges that occasionally surface. Heavy lug gortex leather boots are needed too to negotiate the heather. My spouse enjoyed the daily side trips. A great value and I highly recommend this hunt.

Well done....

However, none of us will believe you until you post pictures as proof....;

Kind of like "seein' is believin' " plus we all like to live vicariously through other peoples hunts.....

LB,

I did that same hunt a few years back. A great experience as you say. You just have to be aware that the hunt is conducted in the "Highland Way". Forget how you've hunted before in the US or anywhere else for that matter.

Congrats!

Mark

Definitely done the "Highland Way." That's what makes it so special. My friend Brett is going to post some Highland photos. By the way, my "Stalker" was a fourth generation hunter. He had Shona eyes!!! Met his father who is now retired.
Lb

Yep a thoroughly enjoyable trip. My wife and I did the trip in 2009. I hunted with a ghillie named Ian and shot two nice stag. The wives enjoyed touring every day with Mitch. I did have to sidetrack and skip the hunting and fishing for the distillery tour however!

Pics for LB.

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

quote:

Originally posted by LB:
Definitely done the "Highland Way." That's what makes it so special. My friend Brett is going to post some Highland photos. By the way, my "Stalker" was a fourth generation hunter. He had Shona eyes!!! Met his father who is now retired.
Lb

Congratulations on such a great hunt. Really nice stags and love the style in which you hunted. Great pictures as well.

I did this hunt in 2002--a truly wonderful experience.

Does Mike still bring tour guide Mitch along?

Mitch is still part of the team. Picked us up from the airport
and kept my wife busy touring while I hunted and fished. He was a great resource. A walking
encyclopedia regarding history and geography. Sherramore Lodge had a fantastic chef too!
Great food that was burned off hiking the Highlands.
Lb

quote:

Originally posted by LB:
Definitely done the "Highland Way." That's what makes it so special. My friend Brett is going to post some Highland photos. By the way, my "Stalker" was a fourth generation hunter. He had Shona eyes!!! Met his father who is now retired.
Lb

What do you mean by the "Highland way"? I hunted stags in Scotland with Kiri and would like to see if the experiences are comparable.

I see Bruce is still head gamekeeper?

A classic highland hunt starts off with a leisurely breakfast at 8:00. No hunting attire in the dinning area. The stalker and Argo driver pick you and another hunter up around 9:00. Stags are high in the hills by now and strategic glassing begins as you drive the bottom land. When a good herd of stags are spotted with a hand held spotting scope, the Argo is unloaded and off you go. The final stalk is usually a mile or more. The hunter never handles his rifle until it's time to shoot. The stalk may take hours and covers difficult uphill uneven heather covered steep hills. The whole process is methodical and the animals are spooky. The goal is to get within a 100-175 yards for a single killing shot. No follow up shots unless directed. When the animal is down, the Argo is called in to pick up your trophy. Hunters then trade places and the process starts again. This would generally describe what is called a "proper stalk" the highland way. Stags come down off the hills before dark and remain there until early morning. They are more accessible and easier to hunt with less rigorous stalking at during these time periods. The preferred experience is to get them high on the hills. Hope this adequately describes the Highland Way.
LB

Ian is still there too.
lb

Wow. I gotta go!
Congratulations on a beautiful stag.

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

Thanks for the explanation- sounds like a great time.