Deer – West Highland Hunting

Deer Management Courses

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 09:31:55 +0000

In partnership with Jelen Deer Services, West Highland Hunting offers a full range of deer management training courses like the advanced Deer Management Highland course.

For more information, email [email protected].

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Deer counting begins

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:55:33 +0000

West Highland Hunting is now counting deer and carrying out damage and mortality assessments. After a wet long winter in many parts of Scotland it’s important to collate information on how our deer are performing to help with designing deer management planning.

If you need help with your own deer count please contact us via [email protected].

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WHH stars in short film

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:52:37 +0000

West Highland Hunting stars in a new short film, entitled ‘Haste ye back,’ (which means ‘come back soon’).

The film documents the personal investment associated with a Macnab attempt. The thought-provoking film addresses the philosophy around failure by discussing the role luck and nature plays when hunting.

The 12-minute film follows Simon and Selena Barr in the dramatic Scottish Highlands as they try in earnest to catch a salmon on the fly, shoot a brace of grouse and take a stag on the hill – all between dawn and dusk. When things don’t go to plan, the duo decide to share the other two elements of the Macnab challenge.

All the sport was organised by West Highland Hunting and the filming took place on estates that Niall Rowantree manages.

To watch the film, click here.

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Hunting for Heroes

Thu, 30 Oct 2014 08:33:10 +0000

West Highland Hunting has launched a ‘Hunting for Heroes’ initiative enabling injured ex-service personnel to take advantage of an exclusive 25% discount on roe and red deerstalking on Scotland’s west coast.

The initiative, which is the first of its type in the UK, is the brainchild of Niall Rowantree, Head Stalker and Sporting Manager at West Highland Hunting, who has managed the Ardnamurchan deer herd for over 20 years. Niall wants to make deerstalking available to any ex-service personnel regardless of their injuries, providing they can safely and competently fire a sporting rifle.

Transport to the hunting area will be provided by ATVs meaning even those who have been severely injured or lost limbs can take part. Shooting will take place from the ground or from high seats depending on the client’s physical abilities.

Niall Rowantree commented: “Our injured ex-service personnel made an incredible sacrifice while carrying out their duties. This initiative is designed to help them forget their injuries for a while and to enjoy the benefits of being outdoors and the challenge of deerstalking in a beautiful, totally unspoilt environment.”

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Extreme Stalking package

Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:42:00 +0000

West Highland Hunting, which manages estates across the west coast of Scotland, has launched an Extreme Stalking package for adventure-seeking hunters who want to test their abilities on challenging terrain and in harsh weather conditions.

Available throughout January and February 2015, the package will enable competent stalkers to work alongside West Highland Hunting’s deer management team to reduce female red and roe deer densities in areas where deer are damaging forestry, crops and new woodland.

Faced with Scotland’s harsh winter weather, the challenge is not for the faint hearted. Conditions will be tough, snow may be waist deep and the wind chill severe. Applicants for the experience must be physically fit, fully competent with firearms and able to follow instructions.

Stalkers taking on the challenge will learn first hand about the complexities and practicalities of managing deer in a remote environment in the midst of winter.

Niall Rowantree, Head Stalker and Sporting Manager at West Highland Hunting, commented: “Our Extreme Stalking package has been designed for stalkers looking for an experience that really tests their mettle. It will be tough certainly but will also give keen stalkers a unique insight into deer management and the vital work that we do here in Scotland.”

Price: £100 per day (including up to four animals)

To book, email [email protected]

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Sales of venison

Thu, 07 Aug 2014 12:37:44 +0000

According to Kantar Worldpanel, a consumer behavior panel, sales of venison have already soared by 413% and UK retailers have been quick to jump on the trend, offering various different cuts and products. Marks and Spencer has already successfully tapped into the venison market, but this year venison is readily available across all the main supermarkets, including hard discounters Lidl UK and ALDI USA. Once seen as a luxury, autumnal product, venison producers are trying to push venison as a healthy alternative to traditional red meats all year round.

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Supporting the Scottish economy

Thu, 07 Aug 2014 12:36:47 +0000

A study carried out in 2006 estimated that deerstalking was worth £105m per year to the Scottish economy, and supported the equivalent of 2,520 full time jobs, often in remote communities. West Highland Hunting is based on the small Scottish peninsula, Ardnamurchan and welcome clients from both national and international countries.

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Sporting Scotland

Thu, 07 Aug 2014 12:36:07 +0000

The value of salmon rivers, trout chalk streams, grouse moors and Scottish red deer stalking estates, which slumped after the 2008 financial crash, has soared to a new peak this year, according to the estate agents Knight Frank. The average value of hunting, shooting and fishing assets is up 32% over the past decade, with grouse moors up 49%. The report says: “Although this may not sound high when compared with some of the other property classes … it is actually evidence of a very robust market.” Organisers of luxury hunting and shooting trips say demand has never been stronger.

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West Highland Hunting has joined forces with Jelen Deer Services

Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:16:20 +0000

West Highland Hunting has joined forces with Jelen Deer Services to create Deer Xcel and Deer Divert, two brand new feed supplements for wild, park and farmed deer.

The mineral and molasses-based supplements have been specially developed by some of the UK’s top animal nutritionists in consultation with Mike Allison of Jelen Deer Services and Niall Rowantree of West Highland Hunting.

Niall explained that the products, which are made in England, noticeably improved the condition of the wild red deer he manages in the Scottish Highlands: “If deer live in an environment where they cannot find the building blocks to grow their antlers then they will deplete their own skeleton and system. Deer Xcel contains essential minerals such calcium, phosphorus, magnesium plus vitamins and trace elements. Without question, the supplement helped maximize the stags’ antler development. In fact, many of them are now carrying bigger-than-ever antlers.”

Molasses-based supplement Deer Divert is ideally suited to over-wintering deer and lactating females. Mike explained: “As well keeping the herd healthy all year round, Deer Divert will help reduce deer damage as they stop trying to search for essential trace minerals.”

Both products contain ParaGuard®, a natural blend of products that helps increase gut integrity and reduce parasitic burdens.

Deer Xcel is £42 for 22KG or £21 for 10KG bucket
Deer Divert is £16 for 8KG bucket

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Would you like to stalk a red stag?

Wed, 30 Jul 2014 14:02:58 +0000

Would you like to stalk a red stag? The red stag season opened Friday 1 July. Stalking such a magnificent beast in this unique environment presents a challenge that has inspired sportsmen throughout the world. Stalking takes place from late summer into autumn when the rut starts, a time when the hill and forests of Ardnamurchan thunder to the challenges of competing stags.

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