The North Atlantic Alliance

Anyone who is interested in hunting and fishing will think red deer and salmon when talking about the Northern parts of Scotland. Strong roe deer will come to mind for relatively few considering that hunting roe deer can be an unmatched experience.

Text und Fotos: Gunther Stoschek

In a way, stalking roe bucks in the sprawling and rugged cliffs of the North Atlantic coast in Scotland reminds one of chamois hunting in more Southern regions of Europe. The grassy slopes are steep, dotted with many rocks and are as demanding for the hunter as some chamois territories in the Alps. Even roe deer, which prefer these barely accessible territories, display behavior here that is very similar to that of chamois. Only when looking down is the difference from the familiar alpine valley backdrop revealed in a spectacular way. Instead of villages, lakes or roads, one sees nothing but the gray, seemingly endless Atlantic, set to the sounds of the surf crashing against the beach.

Not long ago, roe deer were practically not hunted at all in northern Scotland. It was only due to the increasing interest of hunters from all over Europe in stalking old roe bucks that value was placed on this kind of active hunting.

Kaum zu glauben, dass sich das Rehwild an den Steilküsten ganz besonders wohlfühlt. Dem Jäger ist es, als wäre er auf der Gamsjagd.

Im steilen Gelände kommt man kaum näher als 200 Meter an die Böcke heran. Ausrüstung und Schießfertigkeit sollten sich daher perfekt ergänzen.

Interestingly, even today hardly any does and no yearlings are shot. Despite that, the roe deer population is constant. Local hunters report that that they see only a few does accompanied by fawns. And when they do spot a fawn, there is only one. Could that be a clue that a constant and strong hunting pressure, as is often the case in Germany, fosters the reproduction of the roe deer and therefore is rather counterproductive? Too many foxes, however, cannot be the reason for the comparably small numbers of fawns because they are traditionally hunted all year round in Scotland.

Das Ergebnis einer Morgenpirsch an der Küste und zwei sehr weiter Schüsse. Niall ist mehr als zufrieden mit diesem Erfolg und natürlich mit seiner Büchse.

“We only hunt mature roe bucks. Yearlings and does are left alone. Their numbers remain constant nevertheless.”

Niall Rowantree, Chief Professional Hunter at West Highland Hunting and one of the most well-known professional hunters in Scotland, is fascinated by the roe buck hunt along the coast, too. For several years now, he has indulged himself by taking a few days to hunt there with a local farmer. Moreover, he organizes this extraordinary and especially attractive hunt for hunters from the continent. And what could be more fun than to finish a successful day of hunting with a freshly caught lobster and some Scottish whisky?

Farmer Milton Walker Ferguson hat Niall Rowantrees Blaser Büchsen schon immer bestaunt. Nun präsentiert er voller Stolz und standesgemäß im Kilt seine erste, eigene R8.

Movie connoisseurs will find a very special place of interest nearby, in the small fishing village of Pennan.. This waswhere, in 1983, the famous movie “Local Hero” starring Burt Lancaster was filmed. It seems as if nothing has changed since then. Even the red telephone booth that plays a key role in the movie is still in its place. The short walk through Pennan is like a journey through time – particularly if you have the theme music that Mark Knopfler composed especially for the film, “Going Home”, in your head.