In this inspiring Q&A, we sit down with Florence to hear all about her journey into the world of deer stalking. From humble beginnings and a dose of luck to gaining her first permissions and inspiring other women to get involved, Florence's story is a celebration of resilience, community, and the joy of embracing the outdoors.
About three years ago, I was looking for a new challenge—something to push me out of my comfort zone. I came across a clay shooting tuition day with The Country Girls UK, signed up nervously, and had an absolute blast. The women there were incredible.
Later, through my now-ex-partner who was involved in fieldsports, I started beating. His dad was an avid stalker, and I constantly asked if I could join, but it was always a "no." That dynamic really reflected the idea that women had a certain ‘role’ in the sport. After the breakup (we’re still friends!), I promised myself I wouldn’t let others define what I could or couldn’t do.
Soon after, I met an amazing woman by chance, told her my story, and she immediately offered up her son to take me stalking. That was in September 2023. We went out twice, and on the second outing, I shot two muntjac—one a silver medal buck, which now sits proudly on my TV stand. I was hooked.
With no more access to stalking locally, I started messaging everyone nearby who sold venison, asking if I could simply walk with them and learn. One replied, and he’s now my mentor and a good friend—I owe him everything.
What an amazing journey! What advice would you give to women looking to get into stalking?
We love how the women's shooting groups have built a supportive community, how have they helped you on your journey?
How do you prepare for a successful stalk, and do you any pre-shoot rituals or habits?
Breathing control is important before taking a shot. If out of breath from walking, or buck fever takes over, it's important to get your breathing back under control before taking a shot to ensure accuracy.
What's the best piece of shooting advice you've received?
Only pull the trigger if you feel comfortable doing so. You won't lose any respect from me by saying no to taking a shot if it doesn't feel right. It's better to have no shot than an injured deer.
On a recent trip to Norfolk, I took a longer shot earlier in the evening but with the wind picking up hugely, I said no to a shot at a 'standard' distance of 100m later in the evening because the wind was making me sway too much on sticks. It's also why I say to guides/friends before an outing that I don't want them calling a deer to stop as I feel it puts too much pressure on me to take a shot. I learnt that the hard way.
Finally, what's the biggest misconception you hear when it comes to deer stalking?
Deer stalking is ridiculously expensive. Don't get me wrong, it can be! There is essential kit and there's nice-to-have kit. When I first started, I bought kit as I could afford it.
Vortex binoculars come with a lifetime warranty and far cheaper than other brands. My knives are about £10 each and still reliably good. There are plenty of second hand scopes and rifles up for sale which will be your biggest outlay by far but once you've bought them, you won't need to repurchase.
My shooting sticks were £10 second hand. There is a big price scale of guided outings and the associated cost but with the ladies groups, this will be minimised.
As much as a truck is useful, I manage to get by with a VW Up! which simply means more walking and a longer carry. Now I'm set up with kit, it's nice that I have the option to start to make small amounts back by selling deer carcasses from my own permissions.
Florence's story proves that with determination, community support, and a willingness to say “yes,” anything is possible. Follow her journey @florencebauer, and don’t be afraid to start your own.
