Courses
Please email for information, prices and dates.
• Introduction to Deer Stalking Packages
A two-hour session out in the field with a qualified stalker who will teach you the reasons for culling deer, the six different species of deer found in the UK and their habitats.
In addition, you will be told which out of the six species of deer you are likely to see on the land of the stalk, and the sex you will be looking for.
You will have the chance to familiarise yourself with, and fire a full-bore rifle, and learn its capabilities. You will also be taught where and when you should place a bullet, as bullet placement on a deer is vital to ensure a quick and humane kill.
Stalking will be a three-hour stalk, which will entail a qualified stalker assisting you in putting into practise what you learnt in the afternoon’s session. The stalker will stalk you into a position, which is within range to be able to successfully shoot and place a bullet into a cull animal of the stalkers choice. You will then be assisted and guided through the process, to enable you to cull the animal by taking a humane shot to dispatch the deer quickly and efficiently, to prevent the deer suffering any pain.
• Field To Table Course
We have devised this package for the stalkers that want to learn more about the after shot of the deer. We have come across many people over the years and feel that this course will benefit various levels of stalkers. We are under the opinion that all deer stalkers should stalk with a deer tracking dog or have a telephone number/access to someone with a deer dog (Most people shoot game with a dog or dogs, is a game bird worth more than a deer NO). We also feel this package benefits people working towards their DMQ level 2 in regards to the gralloching of the deer and the larder preparation, ready to go into the food chain. We as experienced stalkers only keep a small proportion of the deer shot for our own consumption, but as many people we only knew one way of butchering the animal and felt we didn’t get the most from our hard earned carcass.
This course covers the following, a stalk, followed by a demonstration with a trained deer tracking dog to the deer that you have shot. Once the deer are extracted and back at the larder then one deer will be gralloched to the best practise guide lines and then you will be able to gralloch your own shot deer with the assistance of trained deer stalkers. Once the gralloching session is complete we will retire to the local establishment for light refreshments and then return to the larder, where a qualified butcher will demonstrate on the deer you have shot and will careful butcher the animal and prep for you to take away.
Follow up with the tracking dog:- This can be carried out by various breeds of dogs, however there are certain breads that offer specific extras. Many people will stalk with a Labrador as they shoot game with this and have no more kennel space. There is nothing wrong with this however breeds such as German Wirehaired Pointer (GWP), Hungarian Vizsla, Hanoverians hounds, Bavarian hounds & Teckels. All these species of dogs are unique in their own way.
Gralloch:- The aim of this is to guide and provide practical guidance on the initial stages of preparing a carcass immediately after the deer has been shot and death confirmed.
Butchering:- The aim of this guide is to provide a basic introduction to venison butchery covering the primal breakdown of a venison carcass.
This course is here to assist and help with all of the above, the course includes:
One nights’ accommodation B&B, (but more nights can be added if required for distance travellers). A mornings opportunity to shoot a deer sat in a high seat, a demonstration of a deer tracking dog in action and how this should be carried out in the event that the dog is required, a demonstrated best practice guide gralloch, carried out by a qualified stalker and then you will have the opportunity to carry this out on your own deer. Then we will retire to the local country pub for sandwiches and tea and coffee. After lunch we will be back to the larder where a experienced butcher will demonstrate how to correctly butcher the animal and get the best out of the carcass. You will also be able to take away with you the carcass butchered as this is incorporated in the price.
