Breaking new ground

Al Gabriel has a new permission that’s just 50 acres but it has everything you could want to be a real deerstalker’s paradise

There is nothing more exciting than acquiring new stalking ground, particularly if it’s in a new county. New terrain, different land uses and fresh scenery are exhilarating. New stalking ground is much more than just ground: it is a gateway to the next set of adventures and progress in one’s stalking career. There are new farmers nearby as well as fellow shooters — who knows what it may lead to? One thing in the shooting world tends to lead to another. Top of the list is, of course, which deer species are present. For a northerner like me, that fact is particularly true. Everyone needs a break from roe once in a while.

“Ask and you shall receive”: an absolute mantra for securing new stalking ground. I was lucky enough to acquire a new permission recently on a small lowland farm in Cumbria near Kirkby Stephen. Although the ground is just over 50 acres in size, the terrain makes up for the small plot. It is shaped like an amphitheatre, with a meadow in the middle. It’s a stalker’s paradise. To my knowledge the only deer present are roe deer, but you never know.

I’ve been studying the ground on Google Maps for several weeks since my last visit with the owner, who had shown me around the perimeter and described land use and the kind of impact he is experiencing from deer. Deer have been tucking into pheasant feed and damaging hoppers. The ground has some broadleaves and livestock. There is a small bridlepath, but I have not seen any walkers to date, which is perfect.