As weather cools the stalking hots up, we look at why autumn is the best time of year to be hunting in the UK.
I don’t know whether to be relieved or slightly offended that no one appeared to notice that last month, for the first time in nearly ten years, I failed to get out the deer stalkers almanac!
I will opt for relieved. The reason being that on the ‘Glorious 12th’ no less, my daughter was born and just 10 days later, like swathes of other Londoners, if ‘Right Move’ is to be believed, we moved our family of now five, from our home in Richmond, West London to the country. Needless to say, on a personal note, things were a little hectic!
Fortunately, of all the months in the year for a professional stalker to take a break, September was amongst the most preferable. However, September is very much the calm before the storm, because conversely, October is one of the busiest months of the year.
The rut for Sika and Red gets underway, albeit the Red seem to be rutting later and later these days, and the Fallow Buck begin to be heard ‘belching’ and ‘groaning’ in the woods, as they also start to get going. It is in fact one of my favourite months of the year. With the diminishing hours of daylight, the stalking hours become more sociable, the heat of the summer gives way to fresher weather and the deer become charged with testosterone. No doubt, with the commencement of the rut for all of the UK’s large species, coupled with the Roe finally awakening from their post rut repose, across the UK, it is the autumn that is considered to be the finest time of year to be hunting.
Indeed, my travels as a professional stalker during the next few weeks illustrate this and also, the breadth of what the UK has to offer. In just a few short weeks I travel south with members of the Capreolus Club to the New Forest for Fallow and then North via the Caledonian Sleeper to Glen Etive in the Highlands of Scotland for a few days on the stags. Punctuate this with some fabulous guided stalking for Roe & Muntjac on our own grounds in areas of outstanding natural beauty, including the North Wessex Downs, Surrey Hills and High Weald and you have an indication as to just how much the UK has to offer this autumn.
Perhaps, amidst the travel and guided stalking, I might even manage to catch up on some sleep!
If you’d like to book stalking during this high-point in the year, then contact us on 0203 981 0159 or email
If you’d like to be able to access unique trips, such as the highlands of Scotland for Red Stag or New Forest for Fallow, then why not consider joining the Capreolus Club, you can apply here: apply-now
In Season in England & Wales: Fallow Buck, Roebuck, Muntjac Buck & Doe, Sika Stag, Red Stag.
Off Season in England & Wales: Fallow Doe, Roe Doe, Sika Hind, Red Hind, CWD.
In/Off Seasons in Scotland: Roe Buck, Red Stag, Sika Stag, (Until 20th Oct only). Fallow Buck in season throughout October - Roe Doe, Fallow Doe, Sika Hind, Red Hind are in season from the 21st October.
(Peter Jones - editor)
