BASC Deer Management Scheme – Isle of Arran

The Arran Deer Management scheme is open to all BASC members (who are in possession of their own stalking rifle) and is suited to stalkers of all abilities.  Members are given the opportunity to stalk red deer unaccompanied in a commercial forestry environment. (There are only red deer on the island).  The scheme is designed to provide practical follow-on experience for those who have completed the Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1. In addition to the existing requirement for DSC Level 1, all stalkers will now be required to hold or at least be registered for DSC Level 2. Stalking on Arran is a mixture of open hill and commercial forestry, hence the terrain can be arduous and physically demanding. Stalkers should ensure that they have a sufficient level of fitness and are not suffering form any medical condition which may endanger their own safety or restrict the activities of their stalking partner.

The stalking area is extensive and is located on the southern half of the Isle of Arran, which is situated in the Firth of Clyde west of Ardrossan.  Travel to Arran is facilitated by taking the Caledonian MacBrayne passenger/car ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick, which runs 4 times daily in both directions during the winter period. 

All stalking, which takes place as part of the scheme, is under the overall supervision of a co-ordinator who will supervise the briefing, deployment of stalkers and conduct all culling operations.  The co-ordinators are qualified assessor/approved witnesses for the Deer Stalking Certificate and the scheme therefore offers members some limited opportunity to obtain evidence towards the Deer Stalking Certificate Level 2.  The co-ordinators are principally there as safety supervisors and they can only provide witness evidence for DSC 2 if their primary duties allow them.  It is emphasised that this scheme is not a DSC Level Two course.

As a result of the scheme’s success in achieving cull targets in past years and some anecdotal evidence of increased culling activity on private land around the forest, the cull for this season has been reduced significantly. Therefore we have reduced the number of weeks available to three stag weeks and four hind weeks. There may also be 2 standby weeks in January which will be confirmed on 7th December 2011 dependant on uptake of the previous hind weeks and the cull status. You may express an interest in these standby weeks but no firm bookings will be taken until after 7th December.

Dates

STAGS - Eight Outing Permit  @ £380

WEEK 1  Mon 19 to Fri 23 September 2011  
WEEK 2  Mon 26 to Fri 30 September 2011
WEEK 3  Mon 03 to Fri 07 October 2011

HINDS – Eight Outing Permit @ £220 

WEEK 1 Mon 24  to Fri 28 October  2011     
WEEK 2 Mon 31  to Fri 04 November 2011 
WEEK 3 Mon 21  to Fri 25 November  2011  
WEEK 4 Mon 28  to Fri 02 December 2011     

HINDS Standby Weeks (To be confirmed on 7th December 2011)

WEEK 5 Mon 23 to Fri 27 January 2012          
WEEK 6 Mon 30 to Fri 03 February 2012

STALKING PROCEDURES

The stalking lease covers a vast area and is divided up into a number of widely dispersed beats, which are then divided into two groups of four beats with a safety co-ordinator

responsible for all the stalkers on the four beats within his area.  Both of these co-ordinators are very experienced stalkers and they each have an ATV to assist with extraction of deer carcasses.

Participating stalkers are paired off and two people will stalk together on their allocated beat in order to provide a measure of safety if an injury or illness occurs and also to enable the initial extraction of the very large red deer that are resident within the FC woodlands on Arran.  At all times there will only ever be one rifle loaded within each pair of stalkers and the loaded rifle will always be carried by the person who takes the lead. The lead stalker will continually ensure that his rifle is always pointed in a safe direction and the stalkers will take turns at leading with the rifle.  A more detailed safety briefing will take place prior to outings in the field.

RIFLES AND AMMUNITION

It is essential that anyone who intends to take advantage of the scheme has a basic knowledge of deer and stalking and is confident and proficient in using their rifle in field conditions.  Practice is therefore essential!  Potential stalkers should have taken the time to practice live firing from the sitting, standing and kneeling positions using a stick or other support.  Before stalkers are allowed onto their beat they will be required to demonstrate that their rifle is zeroed by putting 3 shots in a 4” group at 100 metres.  Stalkers who cannot achieve this will not be permitted to stalk live quarry. 

Rifles and ammunition must comply with the Scottish legislation for shooting red deer:

Not less than 100-grain bullet weight

Not less than 1750 ft lbs muzzle energy

Not less than 2450 fps muzzle velocity

Ammunition that is designed to deform in a predictable manner

All rifles must be prepared and zeroed prior to arrival on the programme.  Each co-ordinator will have eight stalkers to supervise and he cannot spend a protracted amount of time trying to sort out rifles that have not been properly prepared for the scheme.  It would be prudent to bring enough ammunition to cover all eventualities that might occur over the five days.

The nearest gun shop is in Ardrossan and problems caused by lack of maintenance or preparation of firearms will necessitate a return ferry trip to the mainland.  In addition, if not enough ammunition is brought; Ardrossan will be the closest source.

The Arran scheme involves stalking over demanding terrain in a climate where the weather can change for the worse in an instant.  Anyone considering participating should be aware of the challenging nature of managing deer under these conditions and should be physically capable of taking part. During warmer periods midges will be prevalent and all participants will need to be prepared with repellents and/or head nets.

A full synchronisation and safety briefing will be undertaken prior to commencing stalking operations.  Each pair of participants will be issued a safety pack containing such items as a two-way radio, marked maps and an emergency strobe light etc. The BASC scheme allows members to cull any deer on the cull plan that is in season.  The choice of individual animals to be culled will be at the discretion of the stalker and there will be no additional trophy fees for male animals.  Stag programmes will cost £380 for 8 outings, and Hinds will cost £220 for 8 outings. These fees are exceptionally competitive and are a unique BASC membership benefit.

If any stalker wishes to take venison home with them, then it can be purchased through the FC ranger at the private sales rate.

TIMINGS & PROGRAMME

All participants are required to be at the meeting point at the Auchrannie Hotel in Brodick on the first day.  A map, directions and time of the meeting will be provided by BASC.

The programme for a typical event is likely to be as follows:

Day prior to start

PM - Majority of participants will arrive on the island

First day

AM - Participants meet at briefing venue

AM - Briefing and issue of safety equipment

AM - Move to range - check zero rifles

AM - Walk beat areas

PM - Stalking under co-ordinator supervision

Last light - Carcasses located and marked for morning extraction if necessary, 

check-in with co-ordinator and return to accommodation.                         

Middle days of programme

1^st light - Stalking under co-ordinator supervision / recover carcasses

AM - Recover carcasses to larder

Change over and walk new beat area if necessary

PM - Stalking under co-ordinator supervision

Last light - carcasses located and marked for morning extraction if necessary,   

check-in with co-ordinator  and return to accommodation.

Final day

1^st light - Stalking under co-ordinator supervision / recover carcasses

AM - Take carcasses to larder. Check-in with co-ordinator

Return to Brodick and clear accommodation

Pick up venison required under larder sales

Return, debrief and feedback

PM - Disperse and return to mainland

OTHER FEES

Stalkers are expected to arrive with their rifles zeroed and the programme cannot cater for protracted delays to allow for rifles to be adjusted.  A penalty fee of £50.00 may be charged for any deer missed or wounded. 

Accommodation options on the island are numerous and should easily cater for all tastes and budgets.  Once a place on the scheme has been confirmed, contact details for our special rate accommodation bookings will be provided.

BASC cannot accept responsibility for delays or inconvenience caused by cancelled or re-scheduled ferries due to adverse weather conditions or any other reason.

  Arran Deer Management Scheme information booklet

  BASC Arran Deer Management Scheme Application Form

  BASC Deer Assessment Centre Registration form