Hello from Scotland

[realsamthompson]

Hello,

I haven’t hunted in Africa before, but am starting to plan a trip for buffalo and hopefully a couple of other things for 2027 or 2028, and after ending up reading quite a few threads on here I thought I’d join to try and get the most out of it.

While I have never hunted internationally at all, I am Head Deerstalker (think PH in a tweed suit) here in the highlands of Scotland, where I run a 20,000 acre traditional deer forest, shooting about 300 deer a year. I have been hunting since I can remember, and working my way up through the industry since I was 15.

I am not at all knowledgeable about safari rifles, for the last dozen or so years I have had various deer rifles built and am very interested in precision shooting, with a 2km range of various steel targets here at home. I have kindly been invited buffalo hunting, so I won’t need recommendations about where to go (at least not the first time!), but I am sure there will be a lot of technical things along the way, in addition to the rifle which is my primary focus to organise at the moment.

A couple of photos to give you a flavour of what we do… I’m excited to pick your brains!

Best,

Sam

 

[farmer_john]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Welcome to the AH community.

 

[Mekaniks]

 

[Rimbaud]

Welcome. I hunted your country once before on an estate near the Mull of Kintyre. Beautiful place. Look forward to returning.

 

[MontanaPat]

Welcome to AH, I’m sure you also have some interesting stories to share with all of us about your hunting experiences in Scotland

 

[Hedge774]

Beautiful pics! I hope to hunt there very soon!

 

[Betterinthebush]

Welcome. Love that pony.

 

[realsamthompson]

Thank you all for the kind words. Working the ponies is one of my favourite parts of the job, it’s the traditional way to extract stags and while we can’t do it everywhere (some places are just too wet and boggy) it’s the best way by far. We have four of them here and use them for as many stags as we can, and then ATVs or just dragging them down the hill ourselves where we can’t.

 

[Miletic]

Hi. Now i can say welcome!
Yours stags is cervus elaphus l?

 

[realsamthompson]

Hi. Now i can say welcome!
Yours stags is cervus elaphus l?

That’s right. For a long time highland red deer were treated as a different sub species (cervus elaphus scotia) because they are so different in size (body and antler) than their European cousins. This has now been moved away from in taxonomy because it doesn't stand to modern science.

This is primarily a feature of the environment they live in… very hard weather in the winter and very poor grazing year round.

 

[Miletic]

Beautiful animal. Even difficult living conditions cannot damage the grace of deer. I wish you successful hunting and the organization of hunting in SCO for a long time to come

 

[Tintin]

Welcome Sam

 

[Charlie64]

Sam welcome and what a great opening post - from the hills and stags to Africa and buff !

I am certain no one is going to tell you that you have to get into shape to track buff if you are stalking on the hills every day!! What part of Scotland are you based in ?

And ps for buff you just need to replace the garron pony for a Toyota Landcruiser and the tweeds for something in camo or dark green !

Cheers

Charlie

.

 

[Russ16]

Welcome!

Scotland is absolutely one of my favorite places. I wish I could spend more time there. I’ve shot driven birds around Fife a couple of times but have yet to hunt stag or roe deer but it is definitely on my list.

I look forward to some more stories and pictures from your wonderful country.

 

[Adam Stevens]

Welcome and nothing better then the feeling of planning for Safari.

My wifey just told me to book my 2nd trip for my 40th in two years which surprised me with a young family but she's a good one.

You'll love Buff hunting, I know I did. Proper tracking hunt hopefully.

Jealous of your location! My families been thinking of a trip for red stags in the highlands. It's beautiful.

 

[realsamthompson]

What a lovely warm reception.

For those interested, here’s a link to a short film made with us last year by the lovely people at Spartan bipods. Hope you enjoy, “A Wee Dram”

S

 

[Nyati]

 

[RIGBY]

Welcome!

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Welcome to AH.