KINLOCH CASTLE GAME BOOKS -
RUM
DEER FOREST
Written from personal first-hand research and illustrated from his photographic archive of the Rum Deer Forest Game Book by George W. Randall, co-founder in July 1996 and former Vice Chairman Kinloch Castle Friends' Association.
* SEE YEAR 1910 *
*
Doorway into Great Hall..
For seven years prior to his purchase of the island in 1886,
John Bullough paid ₤800 a year for the shooting rights.
Opening page of Kinloch
Castle - Isle of Rum Deer Forest record book.
The Great Hall at Kinloch Castle never fails to impress.
However, Mr. (John) Bullough is recorded shooting game birds on four successive days in December 1888 in the Kinloch Castle Isle of Rum Game Book -
Dedication as written on Pedigree of Bullough.
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1899 continues below ... ...
22 August - 11 September 1900.
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Unidentified. Above doorway from main entrance to the Great Hall.
An enlargement of the above photograph, (taken on the foreshore of Loch Scresort),
was displayed in an oak, glazed frame in the Castle Bistro when re-photographed
by the author in August 1995. It was later moved into the corridor by the Bistro.
Records suggest the gun is Major Lynch who shot a twelve point stag on 8 September 1902, stalker Jimmy Mcaskill (some times spelt MacCaskill).
1910 SEASON
Average clean weight in 1910 15 stones (210-lbs. / 95.3 kgs.)
Weight of heaviest 19 stones 6-lbs. (272-lbs. / 123.3 kgs.)
The Finest Head killed on Rum prior to 1914.
All stags marked as bad heads are specially picked out as bad heads.
Mr. John Kirkwood, M.P.
Conservative M.P. for South East Essex in 1910-12.
Returned in the election for South East Essex with a majority of 1217.
Sir George Bullough, Dibidil, Stalker Donald McGillivray. Clean weight: 16 stone (224-lbs.)
"A fine head on a poor body."
ISLE OF RUM DEER FOREST ENTRY:
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Outside the Game Larder, Rum.
Lady Bullough reputedly preferred fishing to stalking deer.
Heaviest stag killed in 1929 Season - Stalker MacKenzie.
Antlers of the heaviest stag of 1936 Season.
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First seven successful stalks in 1938. Last nine entries for 1938.
1942, 1943 and 1944 SEASONS.
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The last four days of the 1950 Season.
The
Seorus was sold in the summer of 1971
and replaced with the new Orkney built boat, Rhouma.
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John Smith with Pride III.
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1 9 5 9 to 1 9 6 7 SEASONS
ANNUAL SUMMARIES ONLY RECORDED
Lady Bullough died on 22 May 1967 aged ninety-eight.
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All deer were shot under supervision of Head Stalker, George Macnaughton.
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From Rum Community Website July 2025..
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AND FINALLY -
The Bar was very popular with guests staying in the forty bed Hostel, campers and residents of the island.
The bar facilities were first class, a roaring fire added to the camaraderie amongst all sharing their experience of the Isle of Rum !
WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED FROM
FIRST-HAND RESEARCH
BY GEORGE W. RANDALL © COPYRIGHT
NOTE: All pages from the RUM DEER FOREST RECORD BOOK
were photographed on conventional film,
digital photography still in the future at the time.
HAPPY TIMES AND MEMORIES !!
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HOWEVER ... ...
+Stags on Rum found
tangled
in discarded fishing gear.
A stag with
rope and buoy tangled in its antlers.
Two stags suffered an horrific death after
becoming snarled up in rope.
Marine pollution on Rum.
Images have been published by
Scottish Natural Heritage, today NatureScot, which manages Rum National Nature Reserve.
The photographs were taken in 2017 to raise awareness of marine pollution.
Sign at Mallaig Harbour.
REVIEWED WITH ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
21 OCTOBER 2025
George W. Randall Research Archive
From Stained Glass Window in Great Hall.
