I'm starting to plan a hunt for my wife and I for the all of 2016 or 2017 and need some advice and recommendations.

We live in Texas and I've had my wife hunt with me here. However, she's not been to Alaska, Africa, or the Western US on the many hunts I have done there. So, I'm trying to get her someplace she would enjoy. She's always wanted to visit the Highlands and sight see and would love to hunt stags (as well as me). We'd prefer a nice estate, but not to commercial. Something more family owned where you become part of the daily life of the estate. Looking for the presence of the lady of the house and other family members when we are not out stalking - and the opportunity to sight see and learn some history - so 7-10 days total. We'd like the opportunity at stalking some good quality stags during the roar, but understand these are free range and not what you see in NZ and Argentina. We are most focused on the overall experience and culture. My wife is extremely allergic to any type of smoke - tobacco smoke, campfire smoke, etc. so that would have to be considered as well. Any recommendations would be appreciated. I'm going to attend the Dallas SCI show this January and will look there a well.

Thanks!

Make a PM to "fallow buck" Athina hunting here on the forum.

Hi from the Highlands!

What you seek should be perfectly possible - but you will need to book well in advance as the great majority of the best estates will be booked long in advance - and for some I am afraid it is "dead men's shoes".

From a personal point of view I avoid sporting agents at all costs - not withstanding, it should be possible to book direct either with an estate or a managing agent see:-

http://www.athollestatessport...._sports_stalking.cfm

http://www.dalhousieestates.co...ports/deer-stalking/

http://www.corrour.co.uk/exper...rrour/deer-stalking/

Expect to pay around £400 per day for the stalking (seldom will there be a trophy fee) with accommodation over and above this - usually it can all be booked as a package. It is very unlikely that you will stay in "the big House" but in an estate cottage.

As you say in your OP you will not be hunting very best animals - these are always left to breed until "going back" - but cull beasts, though probably of good quality - usually the stalkers themselves will take out the "rubbish" at the start of the season when still in velvet.

The rut usually happens second to third weeks of October but depends on weather and the best of the stalking will be from the middle of September to the end of the season - 20th October.

You will need to be reasonably fit - the sport is in the stalking and it can easily take an entire day to make an approach in a very big and stark landscape and take just one shot, but is very exhilarating.

PM me if you wish more info. Unfortunately I do not have any access to decent red deer stalking.

Ian

I strongly recommend you contact Mike McCrave ("the man in the kilt") as he has exactly what you are seeking.

Mike has a registered tour guide who travels with him--the non-hunting spouse/SO is given a guided tour of the area where the hunt takes place, and then the hunter can join for additional sight-seeing after the hunt, if desired.

My late wife and I did this package back in 2002 (I hunted free-range hill stags near Brora, in the highlands) and it was a great trip.

My hunt report may still be on AR somewhere--

Here's Mike's website--you won't regret using his services: http://www.huntingvacationscotland.com/

PM me if you want more info or photos from my hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
I'm starting to plan a hunt for my wife and I for the all of 2016 or 2017 and need some advice and recommendations.

We live in Texas and I've had my wife hunt with me here. However, she's not been to Alaska, Africa, or the Western US on the many hunts I have done there. So, I'm trying to get her someplace she would enjoy. She's always wanted to visit the Highlands and sight see and would love to hunt stags (as well as me). We'd prefer a nice estate, but not to commercial. Something more family owned where you become part of the daily life of the estate. Looking for the presence of the lady of the house and other family members when we are not out stalking - and the opportunity to sight see and learn some history - so 7-10 days total. We'd like the opportunity at stalking some good quality stags during the roar, but understand these are free range and not what you see in NZ and Argentina. We are most focused on the overall experience and culture. My wife is extremely allergic to any type of smoke - tobacco smoke, campfire smoke, etc. so that would have to be considered as well. Any recommendations would be appreciated. I'm going to attend the Dallas SCI show this January and will look there a well.

Thanks!

We did this in September, 2014 and had a great trip. We flew BA from Austin to London, then to Edinburgh. Spent 2 days exploring Edinburgh, then took a Rabbies Tours three day tour of Isle of Skye, which we highly recommend. We thne stayed at East Haugh House, just S of Pitlochry, in sight of the A-9. Very comfortable old (from the 1600s) hotel; superb dining room; and great personalized service. Fished on the Tay one day. The water level was down due to draws by the hydroelectric dam upstream, and nobody got a salmon on. Good time anyway. Had Bespoke Highland Car Tours take us out several days to go high into Perthshire and the Craigthorne Natl Nark. The owner, Ronnie Owens, a retired chief of detectives from london, knows the country well, knows the great little restaurants, and knows the best photo sights. He is a gem. we spent a day stalking with Ian and Owen Fraser, of Highland Stalking. They live on the family sheep farm at Balgowan, Laggan, and have leases on several highland estates, all for free range hunts. We hunted on an estate at Glen Gloy, south of Spean Bridge and north of Ben Levin. Spectacular, wild country. The Frasers are determined professionals and, although not many deer were out that day, I took a very nice heavy bodied 10 pt. stag.

For shopping for your wife, do not miss McNaughton's in Pitlochry or House of Bruar,on the A-9 about 9 miles north of Pitlochry.

I hope this helps you.