John Henry writes about his trip to the Scottish Highlands stalking red deer.

After passing my deer stalking certificate level 2 in the summer, I felt like it was time to venture north for the classic Scottish Red stag stalking experience. So, in October with a car fully loaded with rifle, waterproofs, binoculars, and of course hand sanitiser we headed up over the border.

By mid-afternoon we arrived at our Air B&B accommodation, Where Stags Roar, in the village of Newtonmore. After settling in we popped our House of Bruar steak pie in the oven and settled down in front of the log burner in anticipation of what the next day would bring.

The following morning after a quick drive from Newtonmore we arrived at the shed for the meet up with father and son team of stalkers Ewan and Owen Fraser. After some preliminary discussions, we headed along the road to Tullouch Glen, passing neighbouring Ardverkie estate (which some might recognise as the home Glenbogle in the TV series Monarch of the Glen). The surroundings were stunning and the weather was holding as we loaded the Argocat and headed through the forestry up the hill. Ewan stopped the Argocat just before the edge of the forestry and we jumped out and walked to the inside edge, looking up the open glen for deer. The glen was a vast area, rising steeply on both sides and looked difficult terrain to cross. After five minutes of glassing the hills, we noticed a herd of deer high up to our right with a solitary stag holding the herd. The direction of the wind meant we would have to travel through the valley of the glen, climb up to the top of the hill and stalk back down to hopefully get within range of the herd whilst staying undetected.

Luckily the deer were so far away Ewan was confident that if we drove through the bottom of the glen the deer would remain undisturbed. After climbing back aboard the 6-wheel drive Argocat, the off-road capability amazed me as we made our way up the valley plunging through streams and burns. Further up the glen, Owen signalled his dad to stop as he had spotted more deer high up to our left on a rocky outcrop. However, after watching them for a time we decided to continue on as planned to the first herd. Unfortunately, the higher we climbed the weather began to take a turn for the worst and the light spitting drizzle at the bottom of the hill was gradually turning heavy towards the top.

Ewan stopped the Agrocat and told us this was the end of the ride. As we jumped out and set off on foot the unforgiving Highland weather greeted us with steady snow fall. Owen was striding up the steep incline as though he was strolling along a pavement. I on the other hand, have to admit, was feeling the burn! Before the trip I knew there would be some strenuous hiking involved and invested in a Vorn rucksack that held my rifle perfectly and spread the weight equally across my shoulders. As we arrived at the summit the hill was completely white with snow and visibility was poor. The plan was to use the wind to walk and crawl undetected down the other side in range of the herd we had seen earlier in the morning.

Meanwhile Ewan, comfortably in the Argocat, was heading back down into the valley of the glen to spot from below with his binoculars and help guide us into position. After a short walk, Owen signalled that from here on we would have to keep as low as possible so the deer below would not see our silhouette on the horizon. We started a mixture of crawling and sliding down hill in the snowy heather. Thankfully, as we came lower the snow was clearing and visibility started to improved. We edged over to a spot to try and spy below but because of the curve of the hill we couldn’t see anything without showing ourselves to the deer. At this point, Owen radioed down to Ewan below who had a better view of the location of the herd. From Ewan’s description of the landscape Owen realised the deer had moved and we had more crawling to do. I was glad my Harkkila Pro-hunter suit was holding up and keeping me dry in the slushy snow as we continued edging forward to a rounded knoll. Stopping again here to spy the herd below, this time we spotted the tips of the stags antlers just poking up above some grasses: he was lain down so no shot would be possible. From this position we could not see the rest of the heard, so Owen radioed to his dad who told us not to move. The hinds were less than 30 yards below us and had us trapped, if we raised our heads too high one of them would see us and spook the rest of the herd. We lay flat on our fronts looking down the steep slope only seeing the stag’s antlers moving occasionally. From our position I ranged him with my range-finding binoculars at 120 yards and got my Blaser .270 ready on the bipod. The wind was blowing from right to left but at that distance wind drift would not affect the bullet. Especially with the heavier weight bullet I shoot: Hornady 145 grain ELDX. Eventually the stag stood up, the hinds must have been stirring because he seemed to be looking at something, but again the angle he was stood meant no shot could be taken. We waited, and soon he turned broadside onto us which was perfect for a heart-lung shot. Owen told me to stay low after the shot had been fired because he didn’t want the herd to associate the shot with any sight of humans.

After a short time, we climbed down to the stag. I was eager to see the stag up close and was relieved to see my shot placement was perfect and the deer had dropped on the spot. Owen performed a field gralloch and he set off dragging the carcass down the steep heather to meet up with Ewan in the Agrocat. I thought I did well keeping up with Owen climbing up the hill, however, going down he was practically running at which point I was left for dust!

When we met up with Ewan he told us he had been spying deer on a hill the other side of the glen and asked if I would like to go for a second. Of course, I took no persuading! Owen said that we would need to get cracking because they could move on quickly and October days are short. So having just caught my breath, we headed down a gully walking alongside a large stream. After about 45 minutes of traversing alongside the stream and over rocks we reached some trees and headed up and out into the cover to cross the base of glen so we would not be seen. We emerged out the other side of the trees and started to climb up another steep hill. After nearly an hour of climbing we reached a brow to spy over. To my disappointment the deer had moved left and were walking away over another hill. After catching our breath for 5 minutes Owen gave me the bad news I had suspected myself: we needed to head back down the hill we had just climbed and into the trees again. If we tried to follow the herd on the open hill we would be seen.

Amongst the trees it was very heavy going, saturated with water, muddy and with low branches and fallen trees to contend with. We came to a clearing and decided to creep up the hill and look for the herd. The deer had marched further to our left but this time we could continue to traverse along the hill using a gully for cover. Further along, the gully opened up and we couldn’t get any closer so I got laid down behind my rifle. In the herd was an old stag that Owen wanted to cull to help improve the stock of wild deer. I thought our chance was gone when the old stag began to trot away from the herd, but Owen said to watch closely as a smaller younger looking stag appeared in our sight. We lay and watched as the old stag chased away the young stag from his hareem of hinds. I range found the old stag as he chased off the young stag, 300, 350, 375 yards. I was sure our chance was gone and he wasn’t coming back. Owen on the other hand, seemed unperturbed as he said to sit tight and see how it played out.


Soon the young stag disappeared leaving the old stag stood triumphantly on the horizon roaring; it was a magnificent sight that I felt privileged to witness. As we waited, Owen explained to me why he wanted to take out this older stag specifically as part of a management program that he and his father have been doing for a number of years, to improve the health and quality of the deer on the glen. Listening to Owen made me appreciate how much they cared about not just the deer but the sustainable management of the entire flora and fauna of the glen. After a short time, the old stag made his way back to the hinds across the grasses and heather, picking his way through the rough terrain. He came closer to the hinds and us but he was still a good distance at 230 yards. My Nightforce scope has ballistic turrets and I have been practicing shooting out to further distances, so I quickly checked my reference card inside the scope cover and gave the scope 6 clicks (1 ½ minutes of angle). At this point the stag was stood grazing diagonally on to us. My preferred shot placement is a heart-lung shot as it is quickest, safest and most humane, but the animal needs to be broadside so I waited it out and took my chance when he presented himself.

Up close the age of the old stag was clear to see. At the end of the rutt the stags have used up all their fat reserves and condition and hardly eat. Instead, they spend their time chasing off rival stags and serving the hinds. After gralloching, the climb back down the hill this time was relatively simple - and I even manged to keep pace with Owen. The sun was breaking through the clouds and lighting the majestic scenery in its autumnal colours: the most beautiful farewell as we left the hill. After the day’s adventures, I was glad to get to the Argocat for a rest and ride back through the glen towards the vehicles.

Back at the larder, Ewan and Owen unloaded the carcasses and began work on preparing them for collection from the game dealer. The larder was very well set up with an overhead winch to handle the heavy red deer carcasses, a rail system to transfer them into the chiller and of course it was immaculately clean. Legislation for stalkers to sell game meat onto a game dealer is strict and requires the premises to be registered as a food business with the local authority and comply with a number of requirements similar to butchers. Each carcass must have full traceability through the food chain. The gralloch must be inspected by someone with Deer Stalking Certificate level 2 (which both Ewan and Owen have). This ensures the deer is not carrying an illness which could be a hazard to human health.

Back at the accommodation, I lit the fire and reflected on the day with a wee dram. From the start of the day till the end, the professionalism of the father and son team of stalkers was second to none. The set up at the larder, the knowledge shared out on the hill, and the care they show for the deer really made it a brilliant experience. Even the adverse weather played it part in making the day memorable. Reaching the top of the first hill and getting bleached white in snow head to toe doesn’t sound all that appealing, but if your wrapped up and kitted out in the proper gear it isn’t a problem. Believe me, when the clouds do break the breath-taking scenery is worth the climb! Ultimately, I would say that deer stalking like this gives you such a feeling of achievement. It’s not just the shooting, it’s the challenge of the hill, the weather, the physical fitness, the skill in reading the movements of the deer and successfully taking the shot accurately and most importantly, humanely.

I can’t wait to get the car loaded up and head back!