Headed to Scotland Fall 2023

[Aaron.F]

The outfit I hunted with also offered Sika hunting and it was not based on trophy size. One price per stag regardless of size and it was very economical.

 

[Borderer]

One thing with trophies in Scotland is that anyone offering large trophies will almost certainly be focusing on overseas clients.

Traditionally, highland stalking is about taking out animals that are past their prime or have something wrong with them, so that normally means older animals with heads that are going backwards, I suppose like a scrum cap buffalo bull or younger animals that won’t ever make it.

A lot of estates now have a cull on sight policy, as part of a rewilding / carbon capture scheme.

In both scenarios, it is a fixed fee per day or beast.

I know a lady who stalks a lot on her own land and she has only ever shot one 12 pointer. She doesn’t allow anything over 12 points to be shot by guests unless is is in forestry or unless a guest will pay enough! Her view is that anything over 12 points is probably in it’s prime and best left for breeding.

 

[Shako Badhan]

Following this thread with interest. I have family that live in the highlands and tried to book a stag hunt to coincide with a visit but was unsuccessful. I ended up hunting Roe in England instead.

Everyone I contacted was booked out two seasons or had no availability. Several estates I contacted said they offer first refusal to clients from the past season and they always return.

The highlands have the most beautiful and dramatic landscapes I have ever seen. Hunting or not it’s always worth a visit.

 

[Neil-PH]

After decades of PH’ing in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania I moved to an Estate in Scotland, in the lowlands just north of Dundee.
I would head up to the Highlands where we harvested Red Stag - just beautiful. Roe deer we’d harvest on the lowland Estate, plus bird shoots.
Without a doubt Scotland is one of the most beautiful countries on this planet. The weather Gods are so jealous of its beauty that they torment the lands with diabolical weather but humanity has it covered with the clothing we produce!!!
Just love Scotland.

Some pics of the cabin we hunted from….

 

[kevin masters]

Personally , I wouldnt bother with the Fallow. If you are stalking in Scotland the iconic Reds are the one. Roe would be good also but If I were to travel to Scotland it would have to be a Red stag.
There are plenty of places that are very affordable. Be honest about your level of fitness. I have hunted with Winston Churchill on the east of Argyll and you have to very fit. His prices are very good , I have never taken a "trophy" stag but we have takeen very nice 10 pointers.
Markcz

Do you have information or website ect...

 

[kevin masters]

I’m currently shopping around for a 2025 hunt in Scotland. Book early is my best advice because the whole planet likes to travel and hunt there.

My previous post covers most of my thoughts, but I will add:
- You need to decide if you want to immerse yourself in 1-2 places or tour the country. They make for very different experiences.
- Using Groupon, or flying to Dublin and then taking Ryanair to Glasgow or Edinburgh can save you money on airfare
- Air BnB is usually much cheaper than hotels in Scotland IIRC.

Edit: Talisker was my favorite distillery last time. Next time I am going to Islay for the peat monster tours. If you like the more gentle ones go to Speyside which starts in the Cairgorms and heads northeast of Inverness towards Elgin.

I am just south of Lexington if you were up for getting together over a beer or good shot of bourbon I would love to get together and pick your brain. lol

 

[MarkCZ]

Do you have information or website ect...

winstonchurchillvenison.com

 

[MarkCZ]

This gives you some idea of the terrain.
Markcz

 

[UKHunter]

Talk to me about fallow?

What are you wanting in terms of experience and trophy size?

 

[kevin masters]

What are you wanting in terms of experience and trophy size?

representative is fine obviously the bigger the better,lol. I know they are not native but being there
since 1200 I can live with that. I never hunted them in Africa because they seem out of place to me. I would love to stalk stag as well. just can't devote a lot of time to it as this is vacation for my wife.
only planning on hunting a couple of days, this may not be feasible. your thoughts would be appreciated!!!

 

[cash_tx]

My wife and I are T-minus 10 days and counting from a 30th anniversary trip to Scotland and Ireland, and this thread has got me very excited (albeit this will be a non-hunting trip).

 

[mdwest]

My wife and I are T-minus 10 days and counting from a 30th anniversary trip to Scotland and Ireland, and this thread has got me very excited (albeit this will be a non-hunting trip).

You have 9 days to fix that problem… that’s plenty of time…

Red Stag season is open until October…

Stag Hunting Scotland - Deer Hunting Scotland

Stag Hunting is conducted in the traditional manner normaly a 2:1 basis with our professinal stalkers here at Deer Hunting Scotland.

www.deerhuntingscotland.com

 

[cash_tx]

You have 9 days to fix that problem… that’s plenty of time…

Red Stag season is open until October…

Stag Hunting Scotland - Deer Hunting Scotland

Stag Hunting is conducted in the traditional manner normaly a 2:1 basis with our professinal stalkers here at Deer Hunting Scotland.

www.deerhuntingscotland.com

I actually mentioned that to the other two couples who are traveling with us (and also celebrating their 30th anniversaries), but I don't think the wives would appreciate us boys ditching the custom van tour we already booked in order to go hunting. Maybe next trip.

 

[mdwest]

Easy fix… just shoot from the van…



Why am I the one solving all your relational issues???? Think man! Think!

 

[cash_tx]

Easy fix… just shoot from the van…



Why am I the one solving all your relational issues???? Think man! Think!

Now there's a thought! We should save enough on the trophy fees to cover bail!

 

[UKHunter]

representative is fine obviously the bigger the better,lol. I know they are not native but being there
since 1200 I can live with that. I never hunted them in Africa because they seem out of place to me. I would love to stalk stag as well. just can't devote a lot of time to it as this is vacation for my wife.
only planning on hunting a couple of days, this may not be feasible. your thoughts would be appreciated!!!

I would focus on a highland experience if going to Scotland. The fallow deer are not in the highlands which is where you will want to stalk the red deer. The fallow will be in the low ground forestry blocks. Do a trip to the highlands for red deer and then head down south of the UK to Sussex or Kent for fallow deer on the South Downs area. Or, head abroad to Romania or Hungry for some epic fallow stalking.

 

[crackerman]

Scotland and England are amazing in parts. The wife, kid, and I spent 2 weeks doing a Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, Outlander, James Bond trip and saw amazing sights.
My wife is down with me incorporating a few hunting days in trips going forward and as I heard the term in another thread I am experience hunter so I look forward to any chance to hunt.

One thing my son and I did that was unique was take a shotgun lesson and rifle cinema at Holland and Holland. If you get to London its worth it and i was lucky enough to get to shoot a H&H double for the shotgun lesson.

 

[WAB]

The H&H range is always worth a visit. I’ve burned through a lot of cartridges there!

 

[mark-hunter]

One thing my son and I did that was unique was take a shotgun lesson and rifle cinema at Holland and Holland. If you get to London its worth it and i was lucky enough to get to shoot a H&H double for the shotgun lesson.

This is interesting! How did you enroll? It would be nice supplement to my next London visit! Could you give some more details? Can do on pm, as well.

 

[WAB]

This is interesting! How did you enroll? It would be nice supplement to my next London visit! Could you give some more details? Can do on pm, as well.

Simply contact the Holland & Holland London Shooting Grounds and arrange for a lesson.