I recently returned from a trip to Scotland where I hunted hill stags (red deer) with Mike McCrave of CMS Hunting ("The Man in the Kilt").

This was a package deal for one week at a hunting lodge in Brora, Scotland, near the north end of the country.

Costs included trophy fees for two hill stags, services of a guide ("stalker"), all accommodations and meals for two people, and a private vehicle and licensed tour guide for the non-hunter.

My wife accompanied me and we had a wonderful time.

We arrived on a Sunday and I hunted on Monday and Tuesday. From Wednesday through Saturday I joined my wife on the guided tour, and then we departed early Sunday morning.

The lodge was right on the North Sea.

Hill stag hunting is more rigorous than I realized and I should have been better prepared physically. However, much of the work is done by an 8-wheeled Argo, but that just gets you up the hill. There's a lot of walking and the final stalk is always at a low crawl.

Here are photos of the two stags I shot:





[ 10-14-2002, 02:53: Message edited by: Nitro Express ]

Congratualtions Nitro,

Two very nice stags and some very pleasant, memories I hope..

Was the Rut on when you took them? Did you hear them "roaring"?

Now you need to return and get your self a Sika stag and a Roe buck!

Next time you hear American hunters slate the UK, you can tell them that many of us enjoy hunting and stalking as much as you folks!

Regards,

Pete

Pete:

Yes, the rut had just started and the stags were indeed roaring! Very impressive.

The weather was a bit warm for the time of year and I was fortunate to miss any rain for the two days I hunted. Later in the week we had some rain but by then I was a tourist, not a hunter.

Those "hills" in the Highlands are steep! I've hunted Dall sheep in Alaska, and stag hunting in Scotland is every bit as challenging, at least physically.

Nitro,

What are you doing with the heads? I have heard mixed reports about the US banning the import of such things from the UK??

Those hills are bloody steep in places and everywhere seems to be "uphill" when your stalking!

What calibre rifle did you use? I take it you borrowed an estate rifle ??

regards,

Pete

I'm not aware of any restrictions on import of trophies from the UK. On the way home I saw a number of hunters who were bringing antlers along as checked baggage.

My trophies are being shipped via a taxidermist. I had one caped and will do a shoulder mount and a skull mount.

Mike has several rifles for clients to use. I prefer my own but just didn't want to go through the hassle of bringing a rifle to the UK for two deer. I used a Remington 700 in 308 with 150-grain factory ammo. Scope was a Schmidt & Bender 6X. Worked fine.