Cull before the storm

For at least 20 years, deer stalking has been one of the brightest stars in the shooting firmament. Its rise has tracked the steady growth in the range and population of our six native or naturalised deer species and has effectively resulted in the establishment of a new fieldsport.

Until a few decades ago, mention of deerstalking essentially referred to one thing alone: the pursuit of red deer — particularly stags — in the Scottish Highlands.

In the lowlands of England, a few enthusiasts stalked roe, often drawing on the rich traditions of woodland stalking that had been imported from continental Europe, especially from Germany by returning ex-servicemen.

Fallow, too, were an important sporting quarry in some locations, especially in ancient hunting forests such as Epping or the New Forest, or in the context of large estates that had