Winston Churchill Venison

Winston Churchill Stalking offers the chance to explore the wildlife in one of the most beautiful parts of the Scottish Highlands with the benefit of experienced local guides.

We can accommodate the sportsman who is interested in Red deer or Roe deer stalking or the naturalist with his or her camera for a general nature ramble throughout this wonderful landscape and habitat.

The Cowal peninsular is at the southern most part of the Scottish Highlands, the land is steep and rugged and ranges from sea level up to 3000ft +. Most of the slopes are afforested with commercial spruce forests but some ancient broadleaf woodland remain intact and are now preserved and protected. All forests and woodlands are on the lower slopes going from sea level up to approx 1200 ft. The land above that is open hill.

Our forests and hill ground is the natural habitat for the only two species of deer that are native to Britain – the Red deer and the Roe deer. As a general rule the deer spend the daylight hours in the relative safety of the dense cover of the spruce forests and feed out onto the open hills during the hours of darkness. As a result of this behaviour we have to be active at sunrise and sunset and most of our stalking is on the upper edge of the forest where we intercept the deer, either coming out or going into the forest. Given the rugged, steep nature of the land, access is poor and the sport is very physically demanding but very rewarding – better suited to the young and fit!!

We have two full time stalkers, Paul and Willie, they are both extremely fit and competent (both have successfully completed Deer Management Qualification level 1 and level 2) as well as being two very nice people. Paul has been with us for eightteen years and Willie for ten years. Over their respective years on the ground they have gained an intimate knowledge of both the terrain and the animals. Alistair, one of the butchers in the larder is a keen stalker and has DMQ level 1, working on 2 and can be drafted into the team when required. Winston is also available for “action” when necessary, he also has passed DMQ level 1 & 2 and has had more than twenty years of experience on the ground. When the team are at full strength we can put four parties out at any one time.

We offer stalking all year round, the seasons are :-
Roe buck 1st April until 20th October
Roe doe 21st Oct until 31st March
Red stag 1st July until 20th October
Red hind 21st Oct until 15th Feb

There is a full range of local accommodation with luxury hotels, comfortable pubs and Inns and an extensive choice of self-catering premises. For the sportsman who wants to be more involved, the Churchills have a detached bungalow, known as “The Cottage” on their premises at Balagowan which is fully equipped for self-catering. Staying in the Cottage, truly gives the full flavour of all that is going on given all activities revolve around Balagowan Deer Larder!

                                                   Costs

Prices are valid from 1st April 2008 until 31st March 2009.

Our deerstalking prices start from £97.50 per outing i.e. £195 per day.
The cottage can be rented at £55 per party per night.

Firearm permits for overseas visitors @ £25 each

Please contact us for more details!