I have always had an interest in hunting a roe or red deer (or both) in the UK. Here is what I would like out of the hunt: fair chase, stalking (spot and stalk), I'd like the antlers but obviously do not need the meat. I don't care about size of antlers so much, but would like to shoot a mature animal. Would make it part of a trip with my wife, so 3 days or so would fit the bill. I am not a wealthy man, so high-end accomodations probably won't work for me. As I have never been there, where should I start in looking into this further?

MC

Lots to choose from, for red spot and stalk ideally Scotland on the open hill, roe can be added easily. What month are you looking at coming, can pm me if yo want specific help.

I would venture to suggest that red deer stags on the open hill in Scotland is pretty much the iconic image of deer stalking and is what we do well here in the UK. Roe stalking you can often get in the areas where red stalking takes place but it is not as "iconic" or unique as the red experience.

Therefore, I would suggest that if it is at all possible and if you are coming all this way to do it then you head for Scotland and get into the hills for a red stag. Heads may not be huge and often the wilder the hills the smaller the head and the harder you have to work for it.

I have posted some threads in the past with photos of stalking on the Scottish islands so you could check those out to get some idea of the ground.

I have hunted all over the world; Scotland is one of the best. It is a great trip to bring your wife; we rented a car and after our hunt toured around Scotland. Ms AZW used to live in OZ so she did all the driving.

Stag stalking is just such a cool hunt. Actually, any hunting in Europe is quite an experience. I hunted hogs last year in Austria and really loved the whole experience. But Scotland, man...

When I hunted in 2002 I paid only $450/day. Hunted two days, shot four stags, two of which were culls, but I got the antlers from them all. Instead of staying in the castle, we stayed in a nearby hotel. That in itself was pretty neat.

Don't go to Scotland with visions of shooting those huge stags in New Zealand; you won't be allowed to shoot the biggest stags you see. I took the biggest one I shot and did a shoulder mount; I had to cape it myself as the stalker didn't know how. It now sits above my bar in my trophy room, a great reminder of a great hunt and a wonderful land.

Good advice above, I too would vote for Scotland.

How you play it with regard to your wife depends on what she would want to do, if she is the outdoors, whisky tour, hill walking sort you could spend the whole time in the highlands ans have a whale of a time "going Scots" as it were.

If she prefers a more city based entertainment package then a stop over in London or Edinburgh ( Don't be hoodwinked by the Glaswegian tourist board whatever you do...) will provide more to do than you'll have time for.

As mentioned above you don't have to stay in the big house because you will not be up at the crack of dawn normally.


You could stay with a farmer in a little Bed&breakfast nearby which is often a charming and economical way to stay and meet locals.

Stalking is after breakfast at a civilised hour and goes on until evening usually.

The seasons in Scotland are the 1st July to 2oth October for the Red stags and 1st April to 20th October for the Roe bucks. The best time to hunt these animals is in the rut as although you won't be allowed to shoot the prime breeding bucks you will see many more deer than at other times and the roaring and rutting behaviour of the stags is quite special. The Red rut tends to start in late September and usually peaks in October whilst the Roe rut is usually from mid July to mid August. I would recommend you come for the Red rut,but it depends on what you want.

You will certainly be encouraged to shoot a mature animal, by the way.

Thank you all for the responses. Very good insight. Of course the rut would be the most enjoyable, but that will not be the deal-breaker. Anyone recommend a decent place to look into?

AnotherAZ- Do you have the contact info for where you hunted? A daily rate would fit in perfect for what I would want to do, as a first timer.

I think you have good advice here.

It is worth pointing out that the optimum time for one species is less good for the other.

Roe rut is in late July / early August. Reds are in season, but still in velvet. If you are in Scotland, midges are a major issue.

Late September, early October will see the Reds in peak condition, and the roar will have started. The Roe will also be recovered from their rut. It will be cooler, maybe wet, and the midges will be gone.

I would go to Scotland, maybe Perthshire, or Argyllshire (if you want it steep) in late September. The landscape alone makes it worth the trip.

My reccommendation would be to go direct.

For a Scottish Red Stag see if you can book a day on Invermark, it is a fantastic estate right at the end of a glen. There is a nice guest house there too called The House of Mark, I dont think they have much in the way of Roe stalking but there is some good roe stalking nearby.

Dalhousie Estates, Invermark

An other recommendation is Corrour estate great scenery it also has the highest Main Line Train Station in Britain.

Corrour is located on one of the highest altitude lochs in Scotland, at some 1,300 feet above sea level. In earlier days, Corrour was not easy to reach. The original lodge, which was completed in the early 19th century, could only have been reached by pony. It is reputed to have been the highest inhabited house in Britain.

After the West Highland Railway Line opened in 1894, Corrour began to change. Sir John Stirling Maxwell bought Corrour in 1891 and started to create a 'gentleman's paradise' - a new Lodge was completed in 1899.

Until 1910, guests arriving at Corrour Station were taken first by pony trap to Loch Ossian and then by steam yacht 'Cailleach' to the Lodge. The road along the south shore of Loch Ossian was built around that time. The building of the estate road, which gives access to Corrour by car, was begun by the Forestry Commission in the late 1960's and completed in 1972. Previously, the only way in and out was the train.

Sir John's interest in trees and plants were the start of environmental stewardship at the estate. He was actively involved in establishing the Forestry Commission in 1919, and he planted the rhododendron gardens that remain on Corrour today.

The sleeper train also runs from London and stops at Corrour

Corrour Estate

What would be a "ballpark" figure for a hunt for a red deer? I'd sure like to hear then in the roar, I wonder if it's much like our elk when they rut?

the chef

For a Cull Scottish Red stag you can expect to pay £300 - 400 that will cover both the outing and the stag.

On top of that most people will tip the stalker.

Hinds will cost about £130 - 150 a day with the only limit on numbers shot will be what can be extracted.

There's background information about our traditional hill stag stalking in the reference section of my web site : on this page
http://www.countrysports.co.uk...ce_section_index.htm

Have a look through the different topics!

MC,

Alternatively, try contacting Ian Farrington (IanF on here). He has access to all six UK deer species, and onsite accommodation.

He is based just a few miles from the South coast. (the sunny bit)

www.farringtonds.com

Of course, I'm biased... I live with him!