The foundations

In the first of a new series, Charles Smith-Jones takes you through how to get up and running as a stalker stealthily, of course

- Charles Smith-Jones

Stalking has seen a huge increase in popularity, with its followers growing from just a handful of enthusiasts a few decades ago to more than 100,000 today, according to a BASC estimate. You may be interested in joining them, so over the months to come we will look at all aspects of getting into the sport, from applying for a firearm certificate up to that special moment when you shoot your first deer – and what to do afterwards.

With deer numbers increasing across many parts of the country there is no doubt that they need to be kept under control. Although management planning is a wider subject, which we will not be going into, the individual stalker still has a big part to play in the process. As venison represents a healthy and renewable source of nutrition, we’ll also consider the steps you need to take to ensure that deer enter the food chain in the right condition for human consumption.

Accompany a friend

If you have not had an opportunity to go stalking yet, a good way to start is by accompanying an experienced friend or a professional guide. This will give you a proper idea of what’s involved before deciding if you want to take things further. Whoever takes you out will be able to answer questions and provide advice, and you’ll be learning from the outset.