THE FIELD FROM THE ARCHIVES

Deer stalking for the poor man, from The Field, 14 September 1935

How many misguided people have looked upon the heads hung on the walls of my smoking room and made some such remark as this: “How I wish I could afford to stalk.” In 99 cases out of 100 they could.

For the past nine years I have stalked in Scotland and never paid more than £100 for my sport. This was my highest figure, and we ended our fortnight with 47 stags for the two rifles. On that forest we were asked to shoot on as extensive a scale as possible. The average price has been £50 for 10 to 15 beasts. In most seasons the time limit has been three weeks and, admittedly, we have worked hard for our sport but that is essential when money is important and time is short.

The ideal ground to get is deer forest proper – that is, land cleared of sheep. But unless it is possible to get a sublet from the grouse tenant, who often leaves early, the price is likely to be prohibitive. For two consecutive years we have had a fortnight’s stalking on one of the best forests in Central Perthshire, and it certainly cost us no more than pieces of odd ground that we had taken in the past, such as the bit of sheep ground in Sutherland that yielded one stag.

Now let us start off to get some stalking for, say, a fortnight in September and the first week of October; you may know of some friend or friend of a friend who has taken a grouse moor and does not intend to stay up after the middle of September. Write him a line and ask him whether he has any deer on his ground and, if so, whether he will sublet 10 to 15 stags. Do not start your negotiations till about the middle of August; by then, the grouse folk will know whether they intend to stay on to the bitter end or close down by the middle of September. Any places that are unlet by then will also be reducing their rentals to try to get a tenant; this is your time. If you are not lucky enough to get the sub-let of a deer forest, you will have to look for sheep ground.

Do not be too particular about accommodation. On one occasion, we got the servants’ quarters of a palatial Highlands lodge; I came to the conclusion that some servants have a good deal of luck. A cottage, provided it is not too far from your ground, does very well, and the rents are low. Often, it is possible to get the lodge itself. You need not occupy the whole of it but be sure that you have proper facilities for skinning and cutting up your beasts. Also in your lease, stipulate garden produce, if any, and larder grouse – 10 brace should suffice; they make a welcome change from venison. Personally, I have never resorted to hotel accommodation, which, although possibly more comfortable, will probably afford less privacy and be more expensive.

In all probability you will have to hire a garron. Very often there is one available on the estate; if not, one is usually procurable from a neighbouring farm or the nearest village. Make certain, however, that he has carried deer before. A pony unused to blood can spoil your day. A deer saddle is necessary; if you cannot get one locally, one can be hired from any of the bigger towns, such as Inverness or Perth, and sent on by rail or bus. A ponyman will have to be employed to look after the pony, but it is not necessary to have a gillie as well as the stalker. With a little experience the rifle can make himself useful in hoisting the stag onto the pony, or dragging it if the ground is too boggy to get the horse right up.

On every place I have stalked the services of a stalker have been included in the rent. The cottage item can be ruled out when a lodge or some other accomodation goes with the let. If you take your own maid, you can cut the lassie’s wages but you will have to add to the fares, as she will have to be put up on your way north.

I would advise taking a car. Especially will you appreciate it if you have to go any distance from the lodge to the stalking ground itself. After a long day, the sight of the old bus is very welcome; you never realise what affection you can have for a vehicle till you have had a hard eight hours and you want to get back to food and warmth as quickly as possible.

So much has already been written about tipping that I am almost afraid to mention the subject. I have never yet met a Highlands stalker who has been anything else but courteous and grateful for the tip I have given him. There is no need for you to tip the ponyman as he is in your employ. However, if he is any good at all, he will have done a lot to help you and he will be all the more delighted if he gets a tip when he is not expecting it.

I always have one stag cut up and distributed in the nearest village or amongst my neighbours. One will suffice for larder purposes for the duration of your stay, and one more for dispatch in pieces to your friends and relations. The rest should be cleaned, the head and feet removed and the body in its skin sent off to market in Inverness, Glasgow, Dundee or Edinburgh. In an average year you will get approximately 30s per carcass; this all helps towards your expenses. The food item on the budget will look low but remember you will be largely selfsupported. A potter after an odd grouse, duck or rabbit after a short day is a pleasant change for you, as well as a welcome change of fare for the inner man.

The ideal arrangement in every stalking venture is to hunt in couples, and a good companion will not only help to reduce your expenses but will add to your enjoyment a hundredfold. If the ground is not big enough to hold two rifles, you can take the hill day about and the odd man can fish or shoot for the larder. In the evenings, by the fire, you will enjoy fighting your battles over again.

I have been fortunate in my partnerships and may anyone who, on reading this, feels that perhaps a stalking holiday is not without their means, have the same luck which has followed me in my friendships on the hill. HST

“I ALWAYS HAVE ONE STAG

CUT UP AND DISTRIBUTED IN THE LOCAL VILLAGE”