Deer stalking in Highland Perthshire Scotland

“The most varied and beautiful county.” This is the phrase that Sir Walter Scott used to describe Perthshire, situated in the middle of Scotland. Based on this description, could one think of a better place to enjoy a day’s stalking? Sir Walter Scott was indeed correct with his words; Perthshire is a breathtaking county, with continuously spectacular scenery of rolling hills, mountains, rivers and lochs. As a result there truly is no better place to take part in country sports in Scotland.

Perthshire boasts a wide range of different country sports that anyone can take part in if they contact one of the estates. Perthshire is in fact one of the most famous areas for salmon fishing, because of the expansive stretch of the River Tay which runs through the county. Nonetheless, there are a whole host of other activities that take place on the stunning moorlands; grouse and pheasant shooting, rough shooting, woodcock and goose shooting. However perhaps the most thrilling of country sports that one is able to participate in whilst in Perthshire is deer stalking. Stalking is taken very seriously in the Highlands; it is seen as a fundamental activity in order to maintain the number of deer on the hillside so that the population will stay balanced and healthy, thus reducing damage to the forestry. Therefore when one partakes in a day of deer stalking, they are not only enjoying themselves, but also helping the local community.

Stalking takes place from the 1st July to the 14th February; however different types of deer stalking occur at different times. The main stalking activity happens from September until December and the red stag cull finishes towards the end of October. There are four types of deer which are stalked in Perthshire, these are; red hinds or roe, sika and fallow deer. All of these are available for stalking in Perthshire, however some populations of deer, such as the Red Hinds and the Fallow deer, are more limited therefore it can be more difficult for one to secure a day of stalking those particular species of deer. A typical day of stalking consists of an early morning rise, with the guest being accompanied by an estate stalker and a man who takes control of the pony. The estate stalker will carry the gun and lead the party so that they can get the most out of the experience, and take in all of the beautiful scenery that surrounds them. The party will then gather for lunch to warm themselves up and energise themselves for the next round of stalking! Then in the afternoon the stalking will continue until whenever the guest wishes to finish it. If the stalking is successful and a deer is caught then the guest will be treated to the breathtaking sight of the pony retrieving the deer from the hill and consequently being carried back to the larder to be prepared to be collected by the venison dealer. One can only imagine the exhilaration of successfully stalking a deer and being able to watch the whole spectacle unfold before you.

Deer stalking is not everyone’s idea of a great day out on the hills, some people would rather just fish or hike, however although both of these activities are enjoyable things to do, they do not appear to have the same rush of adrenaline and excitement that comes with stalking. Personally, I could not imagine a better day out; a long walk along the hills, with views over the spectacular scenery, and partaking in an activity, which not only is exciting and enjoyable, but also does something to help the local community. Deer stalking is not cruel to animals; it is a necessary event that has to take place in order to maintain the forestry and moorlands that make up Perthshire’s beautiful landscape and without it Perthshire might not be the beautiful place that it is today!