Professionalism wins the best permissions

Gaining stalking rights can be a challenge but there are several ways to put deer before your crosshairs, as Charles Smith-Jones explains

- Smith-Jones

Some poor souls seem to labour in vain to locate even the smallest and least productive area where they might indulge their passion for deer stalking. Others, more fortunate, appear to find their permissions almost by accident. Is this no more than pure luck? In some cases, possibly, but with a little thought and planning you can increase your chances of finding that perfect piece of land.

You will need to decide what you are looking for before you set out. Do you just want to stalk occasionally or are you looking for somewhere that will allow you to have the satisfaction of your own management plan? Don’t always expect full independence, however, as the landowner will usually have a set idea of what needs to be achieved. And please don’t be greedy. Some stalkers take on far more ground than they can manage effectively. It’s all very well shooting the odd roebuck during the balmy days of summer but the main cull will inevitably focus on the female side of the deer population at a time of year when the days are short and the weather is often against you.

If time really is an issue, why not look instead at the stalking schemes run by BASC or other organisations, or restrict yourself to the occasional outing with a professional who, with time and trust, might permit you to stalk alone. Stalking on this basis can be surprisingly affordable, especially if you are happy with cull animals rather than big trophies.