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Fred Ward, Master Stalker by Mike Yardley

Fred is one of my sporting heroes. Hugely experienced both as a rifleman and stalker, he is, as they say, a character, a man guaranteed never to be politically correct and always guaranteed to keep you smiling! In a tight spot, moreover, Fred would be right up there on the top of the list of the people I would want standing next to me. We first met boar shooting in Poland some years back and we have been firm friends ever since. He is one of those few guys who, if you were in trouble, you could rely on for practical help. Right, on with the interview. 

How did you first get involved in shooting, Fred?

"I started on my grandma’s estate in the West Midlands, I shot my first deer – a fallow buck – with a shotgun, then I decided I wanted to learn how to do it properly and decided to get trained. I have to thank Roger Cray – who I did most with – and John Jones in those early days. I got onto some of the early BDS courses too, and, later, I would become a BDS trainer myself. Qualifications are a good thing, but, there is never a substitute for getting out there and doing it."

Fred has a pile of qualifications from the BDS, NRA, HCITB (concerning catering and carcase preparation) amongst others. He is particularly proud of the last mentioned, though, “because it taught you how to teach”. Fred in his long and varied life has had a career as a professional chef (he once owned his own restaurant). I might also mention that around 1960 he ‘volunteered’ for a stint in the Army after what he describes as ‘a little pressure’ from his family. His dad had been at Normandy and his brothers were in the Army.

Fred served most of his own time at home but saw service in the Yemen conflict. “I did not get on too well with authority, but they pushed me into some specialist weapons courses because of my interests. And, to this day, I do some specialist training work with military personnel.” Nuff said. Fred has also had a highly successful career as an international rifle marksman and was a friend of the late, great, Malcolm Cooper with whom he was involved in testing the Accuracy International rifle. Fred maintains a specialist interest in both firearms law – he has been active in training police firearms officers in his area – and ballistics.

As far as the latter area of interest is concerned, he produces all his own ammunition, and I can attest to its efficacy. His pet .308 recipe is 155 grain Lapua molycoated hollow point in a Lapua case with 46.3 grains of Vihtavuori N140. This is a very accurate (it prints 1/2 MOA groups in my Steyr-Mannlicher stutzen with fire-formed cases) and is flat shooting too, The terminal energy and sectional density of the round is excellent. Although the bullets mentioned are primarily intended as target projectiles, they are great game getters too. Fred also uses 150 grain Speer 2022 boat-tail softpoints for routine work in the UK. The boat-tails bullets he notes are not affected by the vortex to the rear as much as much as flat based ones. “The Speer 2022 are not expensive," he comments, "the jacket is a little thin – which potentially can cause meat damage if they break up – but I have found them effective.”

Fred’s favourite shooting tool is characteristically unconventional - a .338 Win Mag Tikka T3 with a Swarovksi  2.5-10x 56 scope. Some might consider this to be too much gun, but Fred loves it. “It’s ideal for large species of deer and you don’t get many runners." You better believe it! I've never seen anything Fred has shot walk on.  "I’ve shot everything in Africa with it as well," he contineues". Mr Ward also has a .308 Sako TRG with a big Nightforce scope which he uses for target shooting as well as some stalking. And, he has a pistol or two for humane despatch.

It is not a happy memory for him, but he was involved in the Mad Cow cull during which he shot many thousands of animals for DEFRA (including sheep and pigs as well as cows). “It was a tragedy really and it upset me greatly”, he told me with evident emotion, “it was not a nice experience at all but it was a job that had to be done although, in hindsight, I think it could have been better managed.”

Let's get onto to happier stuff. Fred’s advice to novice stalkers: “Buy a cheap rifle and an expensive scope! Once you have got your rifle become really proficient with it, and if you can, attach yourself to someone who has real knowledge and experience. You will learn something from all the qualifications available, but nothing beats practical experience as noted.  You must put effort into the recce on any area that you are going to shoot, and study the deer through the seasons if you can."

"Only shoot those that need to be taken out – old and infirm, the late calves which are weak, etc.. This is what management is all about. You must have a proper cull plan – aiming, usually, to shoot about 25-30% of the population a year. This might break down typically to 60% calves, 20% middle-aged beasts, and 20% veterans. It will change with the ground and species, though, and notably the amount of food and shelter available, but these figures offer a rule of thumb.”

Fred is not a great believer in camouflaging himself from head to toe, “Deer see movement before anything else, they have a fantastic sense of smell. You must always approach them with your face into the wind. You must strive to keep quiet and ensure that there is a good, concealing background to your rear, as well as safe ground to your front. These are the really important things. The biggest mistake people make is to move too quickly. Look a lot and move a little – that’s the old rule. When it comes time to take your shot, be sure that your position allows for perfect bullet placement. If it doesn’t, don’t shoot – they’ll always be another time.”

Fred is particularly expert concerning Sika deer of which there is a large population in Dorset and upon which he is one of the country’s leading authorities. “Sika stags shed their antlers in March and April. They are in velvet from May until August. They start to fray in late August marking their territory by mid September.  I love Sika, they may appear to look at you aggressively – they are not really aggressive save in the rut – but they are very hard to stalk you have to get it just right. They are a species, however, which can be a bit of handful when in a corner if they have not been shot well. I would always advise caution when approaching a Sika. I come from the rear and usually poke them in the eye with my stick at arm’s length. Never forget, if he gets up he can stick those antlers right through you!”

On Fallow Deer:  “Fallow deer are relatively easy to deal with if you don’t over pressure them – in otherwords, if you don’t hunt them too hard. If you do, they may be off for weeks and you will only be adding to your management problems. They always go next door!  I usually go out and shoot two or three and then leave them.”

Red Deer:  “Our red deer are relatively easy to shoot provided you stick to the basic rules and keep aware of the wind and don’t move about too much.”

On Roe Deer:  “Roe are especially territorial, so you will usually find them in the same area. If you don’t get a result on the first stalk, you will probably bump into them on the next one unlike fallow.”

Muntjac:  “Sometimes called barking deer, they’re always pregnant! So, if you want to control them effectively you must shoot a high proportion of females. If you see Munjac in pairs, the one to the rear is usually the male sniffing.”

On Africa: “I love the place! I stalk over vast grounds in both Botswana and South Africa and have shot many sorts of plains game and some dangerous game myself and with clients. It’s still wild and very exciting, I can’t put it into words! It’s a great place, but don’t take it for granted because it bites back – I had an encounter with a puff adder a while back – it bit me on the ankle. At the moment I am nursing a tick bite on my posterior which made me very ill. But, I can’t wait to get back. It makes you feel so free." Fred Ward is a free spirit and a great stalker.
Fred may be contacted at sikadeersafaris@googlemail.com or via www.sikadeer.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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