Greeting AR Friends!

Well Scotland is calling me again, it seems to be a disease that I have. Every few years I yearn for the highlands.

I have been e mailing with the people at Mar Lodge as I had planned on returning there for a week of Stalking. This morning the Stalker informed me that they no longer use the Pony for extraction from the hill.

Call me a romantic but I just don’t like the sound and smell of an Argo, I much prefer the sight of the backside of a pony with a beast strapped to the top and a leisurely walk off the hill, It just seems to round out the day nicely. I am a traditionalist and stalk in plus fours and tweeds. I guess I am a little eccentric…

So I wanted to reach out to you and see if anyone can recommend an estate that still uses the pony for extraction that might have a weeks stalking this year. I am very fit and want to work for the stags so steep terrain and a good climb are preferred. I am very comfortable driving in the UK so a remote estate is fine as well. I will be traveling alone with the main goal of stalking so I don’t need fancy hotels nearby. I would like an estate with a decent deer heard I would like to shoot something each day.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I am looking forward to seeing something like this again.

I've been there for a stalk only once, in 2014, but my experience, hunting across a vast mountain top at Glen Gloy (more like a huge southwest US mesa, but with heather) was this: We spent all day covering a very large amount of ground seeking a big stag and found it near the end of the day. Neither I, nor someone younger than I, could have walked all that distance on heather in the time allowed. the Argo was essential. If you're stalking in a smaller area, say a valley where you can see the entire valley from a high spot, then the pony adds to your experience and you can spot and then stalk.

If you're stalking in a larger area, you'll be grateful for the Argo.

Hi Brad,

Good for you; that's the proper way to do it. Would you be looking to the stag season 2017 or hinds now?

I'm not an agent and the private stalking I have is not what you are seeking but PM me if you like and I'll help you out.

Best wishes,
Milo.

Blanco Thanks for the feedback I appreciate your input.

Please let me qualify the following statement, I know that this is the internet and things can be misinterpreted. So, I want to be clear I am not trying to be a know it all or smart a$$, I am just trying to explain where I am coming from.

I have stalked Scotland before with and without an Argo, the stag in the picture is one of mine shot on Mar Lodge. As some of you may know Mar Lodge is 72,000 acres and has four of the five highest mountains in the UK. So stalking Mar Lodge involves some climbing. I found that it was a workout but a great experience. I spent three days stalking there and did not use an Argo once. I found the pony to be much more enjoyable. If they still used the pony my search would be done. I am looking for another experience like that.

The last time I went stalking I spent two months calling estates looking for the type of stalking that I wanted and days available for me. I know that the estates are taking bookings now for the 2017 stag season so I was looking for some help from people more familiar with estates that use the pony than me. To help narrow my search.

Any help or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Milo, I am interested, I have sent you a PM. Thanks

PM sent.

All, I wanted to give you an update on my search. Some of the estates names were given to me as a PM and some I tracked down. I have lost track of what estates were given to me as a PM and what I tracked down so out of respect I have taken the estate names off my list. But here is a list of the estates I have contacted.

Opportunities
Mar Lodge – Availability but without Pony
Estate A – Availability with Pony, but lower rolling terrain
Estate B – In discussion, They have not started taking bookings, might have space


Estate C – No Availability
Estate D – No Availability, Need to book the main house with stalking party
Estate E – No Pony
Estate F – No Availability
Estate G – No Pony

Estate H – Waiting for response
Estate I – Waiting for response
Estate J – Waiting for response
Estate K – Waiting for response

Right now, I have three opportunities. Mar Lodge: The type of rugged terrain that I am looking for but no Pony (Garron). Estate A: More flat rolling hills on the beat available with a Pony (Garron) and Estate B: Rugged Terrain with a Pony(Garron), but not taking bookings yet and unsure if they will have availability.

I am pretty sure I don’t want to return to Mar without the Pony. So I have a quandry book the estate that has a Pony but not the terrain that I would prefer. Or hold out for the best of both worlds and possible not go at all.

Not sure what I am going to do but wanted to give you guys an update because you have been so helpful in my search. Thanks!!!

Good luck, Brad.

Any update, Brad?

I used to stalk in Blair Atholl but the last time I went, poneys had been replaced by quads. So sorry.

Times are hard - and unfortunately Hondas are cheaper to keep than Garrens!

quote:

Originally posted by Andre Mertens:
I used to stalk in Blair Atholl but the last time I went, poneys had been replaced by quads. So sorry.

Guys,
I have contacted over 20 estates and received a lot of help from friends and fellow board members but ultimately, I was not successful in finding what I was looking for. I do want to thank all of you for the help!!

I just booked a trip to Mar Lodge again, I know the Estate and I will have to live with the Argocat.

It is really sad to see the pony go, but I can understand that we can’t stay in the Victorian age forever.