Muntjac & Chinese water deer stalking

These hunting excursions have been designed to target two extremely special species of deer. The Muntjac deer and the Chinese water deer have developed an iconic status amongst deer stalkers throughout the world. Both of these fascinating deer originated in Asia and have found their way into the UK through Zoo’s and private collections, it is believed that escapees started to establish wild populations in the early 1900s. Today both species have successfully naturalised and their numbers are on a rapid increase particularly in East anglia where we run our hunts.

Our hunting grounds are made up of mixed broadleaf and coniferous woodland, arable fields, parkland and marshland, this type of terrain is the perfect habitat for both species. The deer on these grounds are managed so that we can keep a sustainable number of animals in good and healthy condition, resulting in a good numbers of medal class bucks harvested each year. Hunting trips mostly take place during early mornings and evenings with both foot stalking and highseats being used to obtain the best results.

What to expect

A typical morning or evening hunt will see you and your hunting companions meeting the guide or guides at a pre-arranged time and place. Depending on what species or medal size of animal you wish to hunt will determine where your guide will take you and if you will be waiting in a hunting tower or stalking with your guide on foot. The grounds that we hunt are very beautiful especially at first and last light, it is always amazing to see the other species of animals going about their business at these quiet times of the day.

When on foot the guide will take you to the most likely spots for success, this is very exciting hunting as these small deer can suddenly appear from nowhere. Waiting in hunting towers can also be extremely exhilarating, your senses tend to be heightened during these times due to the quietness that surrounds you. Once your hunt has concluded the animals that you have successfully hunted will be gralloched and inspected by your guide.
Our morning and evening hunts can easily be combined over several days as we have enough hunting areas to keep things interesting and you exploring new ground.

The best times of year to experience these hunts is probably between February to May. Chinese water deer can be particularly nice to hunt in the couple of months leading up to the end of their season on March 31st as the days start to draw out and the spring starts to blossom. Muntjac are also becoming more active in these months and will also start to respond well to the buttolo call making for some particularly exciting encounters through to late spring.

What to Bring

You are welcomed to bring your own rifle and ammunition, as long as its a legal caliber for the deer, but there is also possible to hire a rifle from the guide or estate. Getting the right clothing is very important and having to many options is always better than not enough. The weather in the UK can change with the drop of a hat so its a good idea to wear multiple layers. Good quality base layers, mid layer and outer layer is recommended with an all weather water proof coat over the top. Trousers and coat should be made of a material that doesn’t make a lot of noise when you walk, and more natural colours and tones such as browns, greens and greys are preferred. A Hat is always a good idea and a face vail if you have one, hats and face vails can be borrowed if required. A pair of waterproof walking boots or wellington boots are advised for footwear as you will sometimes need to cross wet ditches etc during a stalk.

We provide full gear lists and Itineraries with booking confirmation but for more details please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Accommodation

If you require accommodation then we can easily organise this in either a classy local hotel or in some private chalets. Please contact us for more info and up to date prices.