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Deerstalker Dave can fell two stags with one shot
Last updated at 22:52pm on 24.02.07
View to a kill: David Cameron has a reputation as a deadly accurate marksman
David Cameron risks offending animal rights campaigners after details of his secret passion for stag shooting, one of the bloodiest field sports, were revealed.
The Conservative leader regularly goes deerstalking and is one of the few marksmen skilled enough to shoot two stags in one go.
The disclosure of his stag-hunting hobby comes just two weeks after The Mail on Sunday disclosed how he was nearly expelled for smoking cannabis at Eton and carried on using the drug at Oxford University.
Conservative chiefs will hope that news of his hunting and shooting exploits will have as little impact on his popularity as the drug expose: a week later, his poll ratings increased.
Mr Cameron, who also enjoys pheasant shooting, has become an expert deerstalker since being introduced to the sport as a young man, though he has never talked about it in public.
It is one of the reasons that he and wife Samantha take regular family holidays on the vast Scottish estate owned by her stepfather, Viscount Astor, on the island of Jura in the Inner Hebrides.
The island's human population of 200 is outnumbered by its 6,000 deer, and deerstalking is one of its main industries.
Political writer Bruce Anderson, a close friend of Mr Cameron, said: 'David has been stalking deer for 20 years or more.
'He is very good with a gun. I have seen him shoot a stag. He has the "right-left" knack whereby you shoot two deer in one go before they run off. Only the best stalkers can do that.'
Mr Cameron was expected to go to Jura last summer but went to Corfu instead.
Whether it was because it was his first holiday as Tory leader and he did not want to be photographed lying on his belly in tweeds with a stag in his rifle sights is not clear.
He goes shooting in Jura with Gordon Muir, a professional deerstalker in charge of shooting parties on the Astor family's 20,000-acre Tarbert estate.
Mr Muir's son, distillery worker Jamie Muir, said yesterday: 'Mr Cameron has been coming for the past few years. He goes shooting on the estate, and he's been doing it for a while.
'I personally haven't seen him get a deer but he would have to be a very poor shot not to get anything because the island is teeming with them.'
Groups of wealthy businessmen and tourists go on to Jura's hills with experienced local stalkers, who know the best places to find the herds.
The island is renowned for the size of its distinctive dark coloured red deer - individual beasts can weigh up to 26 stone.
Mike Richardson, a local guide, said: 'They take the shooters on to the hills and get them above the deer.
'The challenge is to get close - a good sportsman will be able to shoot a deer from 300 yards - but you get some who fire as soon as they see one because they are after the trophy head.'
It is not for the faint-hearted. By tradition, when a stalker shoots his or her first stag, the marksman is 'blooded' with the animal's blood smeared over them.
The animal is then 'gralloched' - the Highland term for disembowelled.
The carcass is hauled back to the estate office where the antlers, head and limbs are chopped off and the meat is cut into joints or sold to a dealer.
The stag-shooting season in Jura lasts from July to November - ideal for the Camerons, who usually holiday there in August.
Asked recently about his love of Jura, Mr Cameron said: 'I love swimming in the sea there. The beaches are beautiful and I love to fish.'
He chose as his luxury item on Desert Island Discs last year a malt whisky from Jura.
There was no mention of deerstalking then, but he has not been so reticent about his hobbies when addressing Tories in private.
Asked about hunting, shooting and fishing when he was selected as Tory MP for Witney in rural Oxfordshire, where field sports are popular with activists, he declared: 'I take part in the first two but haven't got the patience for the third.'
During last year's Conservative leadership contest, Mr Cameron, who has foxhunted in the past, told one pro-hunting Tory MP: 'You must vote for me because I am the only candidate to have hunted with two mounted packs.'
He has shown his commitment to field sports by promising a fresh Commons vote on reversing the hunting ban if he becomes Prime Minister, one of his few firm policy pledges.
Unlike stag hunting on horse back, banned two years ago along with foxhunting, deerstalking is still legal - as long as it is carried out under proper supervision.
It is accepted as one of the best ways of culling the UK's deer population though some animal-rights activists say it is cruel.
Reader views (14)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Venison is a great food source. Stalking is in the main the only way to control population numbers and reduce the risk of both young and old animals starving during the hard winters. Stalkers enjoy being out on the hills and take pride in their ability to get close to these elusive animals, a clean kill from a good shot is of paramount importance as is the selection of the animal to be killed. If Mr Cameron is the good shot he is sated to be then I for one would encourage him to continue stalking it will keep him closer to nature and closer to to people who provide the food for all the above who what to live in a unreal and impractical world.
- R Towers, Silsden West Yorkshire.
I am both disgusted and immensely disappointed - I thought Cameron valued life? I cannot trust anybody who gets pleasure from killing. I will not vote for such a man.
- Margaret, Gloucester
Perhaps Mr Cameron should put his time into more worthwhile causes instead of terrorising the wildlife of our countryside for fun. What a pathetic display of human nature - trying to feel power by blasting a bullet into a living creature.
- Lisa Moffat, Carlisle, England
He has lost my vote - what a sick person he must be to feel powerful about killing these beautiful animals.
- Barbara Sheringham, Brentwood, Essex
How brave to take on the gentle stag armed only with a powerful shotgun! I have tried but fail to see how anyone can take pleasure from killing an animal. Is it an illness, or just a mere urge to do something offensive? Cameron has already displayed the typical hysterical reaction to anti-hunt activity by refusing to discuss the matter but ranting about how hunting 'must' continue.
At a time when Labour are so incredibly failed and represent one of the most flawed and unpopular governments in history, Cameron emphasises his inelectability and politics remains in a shambles.
- Chris Clarke, Plymouth, UK
Anyone who eats meat yet feels this sport is wrong, has shocking double standards. A cleanly killed deer has a much fairer life than any mass farmed animal, and feels little or no pain if shot correctly. Too many people forget where meat comes from now that it's bought from the supermarket wrapped in plastic! To remain healthy, the deer population needs to be culled in this methodical manner. I'm pleased that David Cameron has been honest about his love for this sport, and he will be getting my vote because of it.
- Neil Clements, Gloucester UK
He has just lost my vote too and the votes of my family.
- Elizabeth Baron, Brighton UK
The 'ban' on hunting with dogs has been a shambles - all the packs are still hunting, using a variety of loopholes. I support anyone who will do anything to get rid of such an inefficient act, whether it's by tightening it or by repealing it. And it's unlikely Labour will do either.
So I guess I'll vote Tory.
- James Fishwick, London
Anyone who hurts and kills living breathing creatures for fun is sick! It is totally cruel, through and through, no excuses for it. It is very disappointing and disgusting that an important figure like David Cameron who is very likely in line to govern our whole country is into this foul past time. It takes a certain kind of person to enjoy this kind of sport, an evil, sick minded person! Do we really want someone like that in the position of Prime minister?
- Trish Reynolds, Oxfordshire, England
He just LOST my vote.
- Freddie, London
"skilled enough to shoot two stags in one go":
- takes first shot
- second stag prepares to run
- takes second shot
Inherently risking the danger that the second stag will start to run, resulting in a reduced chance of killing and an increased danger of suffering.
Still, as long as David Cameron enjoys himself!
- Mike Hobday, London
Hopefully this will give fieldsports some much needed good publicity and an insight into the conservation and pest control work done by shooters - as well as the sporting aspect of commercial game shooting and deerstalking.
- Mario, England
Killing for FUN this says a lot about the man.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford
Good for him, very challenging sport as well. Deer = large rats with horns.
- Stan, Expat
