We are delighted to announce that Chris Dalton has been shortlisted in the 2022 Great British Shooting Awards in the category of 'Professional Stalker of the Year'.

Vote for Chris to win! 

Chris has been crowned Professional Stalker of the Year in 2019, 2020 and 2021, help Chris secure the title for another year! 

Chris Dalton is a full time deer manager, an assessor for the British Deer Society and a member of the UK trophy measuring team for BASC and BDS. He also runs South Ayrshire Stalking, providing ethical hunting in the wilds of Scotland. South Ayrshire Stalking is the first business in the UK to be accredited by the 2% for Conservation scheme (they set aside 1% of turnover and 1% of time for wildlife and fish conservation-related schemes). Chris champions the role of hunters as stewards of nature, managing and harvesting the land, and holding a deep respect for their quarry. This is an ancient relationship and one he wants to see survive to the next generations.

Chris's background:

I come from a farming background in rural South Yorkshire and my love of the  countryside and rural pursuits has remained with me to this day. I was introduced to shooting from an early age and quickly became hooked on the sport My grandfather was a great horticulturalist, another of my interests and I am passionate about
sustainability and self- sufficiency, examples of this are that we grow all of own vegetables, keep free range hens and bees I was fortunate to be able to continue sporting shooting as I moved around the world as a serving RAF officer. Stalking came later to me - around 30 years ago and with Anne we formed South Ayrshire
Stalking in 2006. Our aim has always been to provide a full range of stalking activities; with the major emphasis on promoting ethical deer management principals and to promote the education and training aspects available to all via the Deer Management Qualifications . I keep Bees, have been a DMQ assessor with the British Deer Society and am one of the senior measures with the BDS/BASC/ST trophy team.

I am a frequent presenter of The Shooting Show and write a regular column for Shooting Times. I feel honoured to have been awarded the title, ‘UK Professional Stalker of the Year’, for the last 3 years running, made all the more special as it is a public vote. I strongly advocate that we should not shy away from explaining and promoting what we do as stalkers or shooters, this is a conversation we must have as often as we can, we are the true guardians of the countryside along with its many traditions, and we should be rightly proud of that.

I use the Haenel Jaeger 10 Varmint Sporter .243 / Leupold VX-6HD 4-24X52 Rifle Scope / B&T Suppressor.