muntjac in donegal

reidy87

Any of you guys know if there are any muntjac in donegal?? i wanted to know if they are established in donegal?? and if so do they cause much of a problem??

Hezz700

Sorry to hi-jack your thread Reidy,

but after reading it i was wondering what calibres will be allowable for Muntjac here in the enlightened land saints and scholars??

foxshooter243

Hezz700 wrote: »

Sorry to hi-jack your thread Reidy,

but after reading it i was wondering what calibres will be allowable for Muntjac here in the enlightened land saints and scholars??

As far as I know Hezz ,although they are an introduced species and a pest in the eyes of the NPWS, they still retain the classification of being a deer species unwanted or not, therefore the same rules and regs apply as regards calibres-Deer calibres only and Deer Culling cert required same as any other. The season on them is an open one though, all year round.

Grizzly 45

Feck! You lads get all the good stuff in Donegal!:(:) Last year it was big cats,and world record trophy stags.This year muntjac.:D

foxshooter243

reidy87 wrote: »

spotted my first muntjac while out shooting magpies with the double barrel i've hunted this piece of land for the last 10 years and never seen a deer in it never mind a muntjac. i was reading through old threads thought Deer Hunter DL might be intrested. dont have a deer rifle yet been thinkin bout gettin one though, help would be appreciated!!! i was readin up on them, not to much info except they are an invasive species. i wanted to know if they are well established in donegal?? and do they cause much of a problem??

Ok Reidy, spit it out ! wheres their location cos im only 15 miles away:eek::D:D

foxshooter243

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Feck! You lads get all the good stuff in Donegal!:(:) Last year it was big cats,and world record trophy stags.This year muntjac.:D

You know what they say Grizz..Donegal has it all!!:D

Hezz700

foxshooter243 wrote: »

As far as I know Hezz ,although they are an introduced species and a pest in the eyes of the NPWS, they still retain the classification of being a deer species unwanted or not, therefore the same rules and regs apply as regards calibres-Deer calibres only and Deer Culling cert required same as any other. The season on them is an open one though, all year round.

Thanks FS, I thought as much. but i know from experience that ya don't need .270, .308 or even 6.5 to take down mighty Munties cleanly.

We should take a leaf outta scotlands book. (we won't though):rolleyes:

Hezz700

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Feck! You lads get all the good stuff in Donegal!:(:) Last year it was big cats,and world record trophy stags.This year muntjac.:D

Its a bit sickening alright:D

reidy87

foxshooter243 wrote: »

Ok Reidy, spit it out ! wheres their location cos im only 15 miles away:eek::D:D

15 miles away isn't much good if you dont have permission to shoot there:p

i was thinking of getting a cz 550 american chambered in .243 or a cz 550 varmint chambered in .308 anybody with any experiances with either of these??

i know the .308's is "overkill" to say the least for muntjac but i also have permission on land containing sika any help or advice would be appreciated

been shootin scatterguns for year pretty new to rifles

foxshooter243

reidy87 wrote: »

15 miles away isn't much good if you dont have permission to shoot there:p

i was thinking of getting a cz 550 american chambered in .243 or a cz 550 varmint chambered in .308 anybody with any experiances with either of these??

i know the .308's is "overkill" to say the least for muntjac but i also have permission on land containing sika any help or advice would be appreciated

been shootin scatterguns for year pretty new to rifles

You cant go wrong with cz rifles reidy for value for money, my mate shoots a cz 243 and its a very accurate rifle, The 308 would be a tad heavy for muntjac , and the 243 would be a better compromise .
Are there no reds up your way?

reidy87

i havent seen any, although im told there is a small number of reds in my area, sika seems to be the main problem tho, would you be able to get your friend to tell me about the CZ .243??

foxshooter243

reidy87 wrote: »

i havent seen any, although im told there is a small number of reds in my area, sika seems to be the main problem tho, would you be able to get your friend to tell me about the CZ .243??

Why dont you take a run in to one of the gun dealer and have a look at various rifles.Eugene McCosker over in lifford hunts deer and is a good man to talk deer hunting calibres with;)

jaffa20

reidy87 wrote: »

and if so do they cause much of a problem??

Nobody really answered this part of the question so i'd thought i'd answer it for you after a bit of research as the other guys are too busy on the feral cats thread

"Muntjac do not cause significant damage to agricultural or timber crops. However, high muntjac densities may result in the prevention of coppice regeneration and the loss of some plants of conservation importance, such as primulas. Muntjac trophy hunting is only recently becoming popular and so muntjac stalking has little tradition on country and forest estates. The most significant direct economic impact that muntjac have on human interests is in collisions with cars. However, this has welfare as well as economic implications"

I guess the rest is up to you but i'm thinking if there is not many in donegal and not causing particular harm, then leave be.

Of course, the others will inform you of guns or particular mode of taking deer down etc

Grizzly 45

[

"Muntjac do not cause significant damage to agricultural or timber crops. However, high muntjac densities may result in the prevention of coppice regeneration and the loss of some plants of conservation importance, such as primulas. Muntjac trophy hunting is only recently becoming popular and so muntjac stalking has little tradition on country and forest estates. The most significant direct economic impact that muntjac have on human interests is in collisions with cars. However, this has welfare as well as economic implications"

And that paragraph came from where????

I guess the rest is up to you but i'm thinking if there is not many in donegal and not causing particular harm, then leave be.

What you didnt mention or didnt know is;they are prolific breeders in the deer world.So it is very easy for an area to become infested with them like feral cats.
Fact is;you introduce a new animal /plant into an eco system,no one really knows what will happen next.

Of course, the others will inform you of guns or particular mode of taking deer down etc

And that offends you somhow as well?...Leave well alone Jafa,,you wont convince anyone here on this issue either..;)

Dusty87

Your dead right grizz. They breed all year round and are expected to become the most populated species of deer in britain. Jaffa as they breed so much a couple can become a problem in a couple of years.

foxshooter243

Jaffas posts arent worth responding too imo, anyone who comes on to the hunting forum trying to google up an argument without the slightest notion of the overall picture doesnt deserve an answer.enough said!.

paddy2008

foxshooter243 wrote: »

Jaffas posts arent worth responding too imo, anyone who comes on to the hunting forum trying to google up an argument without the slightest notion of the overall picture doesnt deserve an answer.enough said!.

cant argue with this:D

HUBERTUS

Muntjac are tough little blighters and are better shot with a .270 or .308 than with a .243 , I have shot more than a few , only the Sika is harder to kill where he stands.

H.

kakashka

HUBERTUS wrote: »

Muntjac are tough little blighters and are better shot with a .270 or .308 than with a .243 , I have shot more than a few , only the Sika is harder to kill where he stands.

H.

WHA!!

finnlite

+ 1 ,H

kakashka

That'll be two wha's then!!
Am i missing something???

finnlite

muntjac are very hard to nail to the spot as H,s post states

kakashka

Look fairly tough alright!!!probably better to use .50 to be sure:rolleyes:

thedragon

HUBERTUS wrote: »

Muntjac are tough little blighters and are better shot with a .270 or .308 than with a .243 , I have shot more than a few , only the Sika is harder to kill where he stands.

H.

Wha!!!!!!!

finnlite

jaffa20 wrote: »

Nobody really answered this part of the question so i'd thought i'd answer it for you after a bit of research as the other guys are too busy on the feral cats thread

"Muntjac do not cause significant damage to agricultural or timber crops. However, high muntjac densities may result in the prevention of coppice regeneration and the loss of some plants of conservation importance, such as primulas. Muntjac trophy hunting is only recently becoming popular and so muntjac stalking has little tradition on country and forest estates. The most significant direct economic impact that muntjac have on human interests is in collisions with cars. However, this has welfare as well as economic implications"

I guess the rest is up to you but i'm thinking if there is not many in donegal and not causing particular harm, then leave be.

Of course, the others will inform you of guns or particular mode of taking deer down etc

very true what have said jaffa.
roe/fallow in the uk a bigger problem in RTA s , muntjac just go under and cause no damage.

Grizzly 45

Depends on what you are driving.

Deerhunter2

any correctly placed centerfire will do the job its not much bigger than a fox:rolleyes: .223 would be ideal

finnlite

how have shot how many with your 223 ?

foxshooter243

http://www.thefield.co.uk/features/184265/Stalking_muntjac.html

Interesting read here, the author suggests a 243 as minimum calibre.

HUBERTUS

A few Muntjac `nestlings`.

H.

finnlite

a nice nest of muntys .
from my limited experience with them i would put them down as the a excellent quarry hard to stalk never really stop for the shot.

kakashka

finnlite wrote: »

very true what have said jaffa.
roe/fallow in the uk a bigger problem in RTA s , muntjac just go under and cause no damage.

And the authors( British Deer Society) continue on to say that
"the most significant direct economic impact that muntjac have on human interests is in collisions with cars"(now that UK gov has dumped farming)

finnlite

kakashka wrote: »

And the authors( British Deer Society) continue on to say that
"the most significant direct economic impact that muntjac have on human interests is in collisions with cars"(now that UK gov has dumped farming)

the farmers in the uk know how to charge for there stalking rights .
it could cost 500 pounds to shoot a half descent muntjac and several thousand for a good roe buck.

muntjac in the uk and now wild boar are making many farmers a tidy sum.

with milk gone down another 20 cent a litre hear ,they might be the way to go.

BryanL

seems various shooting groups here,are hoping we'll soon be paying through the nose as well.
Bryan.

finnlite

BryanL wrote: »

seems various shooting groups here,are hoping we'll soon be paying through the nose as well.
Bryan.

what groups are they ?

BryanL

finnlite wrote: »

what groups are they ?

They would be Professional stalkers
They would be large estates
They would be Irish deer society
They would be some rangers

but i'm sure you know all that?

lots of these crowds are screaming about people poaching, poster campaigns sponsored by the british deer society?why?, warning people to look out guys shooting at night.
More worried about losing revenue than losing deer.
Bryan

finnlite

BryanL wrote: »

They would be Professional stalkers
They would be large estates
They would be Irish deer society
They would be some rangers

but i'm sure you know all that?

lots of these crowds are screaming about people poaching, poster campaigns sponsored by the british deer society?why?, warning people to look out guys shooting at night.
More worried about losing revenue than losing deer.
Bryan

if i thought had the slightest idea about what your talking about i would engage you in conversation about these matters .

your very hung up on the anti poaching campaign ? is not to your liking

meathstevie

I think most of us are fairly annoyed with certain people trying to turn particular aspects of shooting and hunting in to their own little fiefdom.

rob308

BryanL wrote: »

More worried about losing revenue than losing deer.
Bryan

+1 on that

BryanL

My concern and confusion is that the Irish deer society purports to represent only 26 counties, but yet the British deer society are sponsors of the campaign?
Why would the british deer society want to protect Irish deer from poaching???

Is it pure altruism?

foxes protecting geese!

HUBERTUS

A tidy Munty buck with no battle scars, torn ears or broken tusks.
I had this one shoulder mounted. [.270 Carl Gustaf rifle.]

H.

Grizzly 45

Uhmm..I suppose the same reason that the UK Leauge Against Cruel Sports "supports " the Irish Council Against Bloodsports with posters as well?? We are too cheap/poor to run up our own here?:p

finnlite

if you look at there face there very sika like i think .just look like they kick ass .
nice buck silver /gold is he .

HUBERTUS

No , he missed out on a medal , wasn`t long enough and a bit thin on the beams.
Shot too soon , a couple of years more would have helped him to make the grade.

H.

finnlite

a nice animal all the same he looks 10 cms+ .lovely meat the nearest we can get at the moment is a sika calf taken in sep.

kakashka

finnlite wrote: »

if you look at there face there very sika like i think .just look like they kick ass .
nice buck silver /gold is he .

Odd lookin Sika in your parts then.

kakashka

HUBERTUS wrote: »

A tidy Munty buck with no battle scars, torn ears or broken tusks.
I had this one shoulder mounted. [.270 Carl Gustaf rifle.]

And may i ask what you would use to take a sizable Boar or Red Deer?!

kakashka

finnlite wrote: »

if i thought had the slightest idea about what your talking about i would engage you in conversation about these matters .

your very hung up on the anti poaching campaign ? is not to your liking

I dont know BryanL nor pretend to speak for him,however he may very well know what he's talking about!!
Any campaign that brands hunters as poachers in certainly not to my liking.
KKK

HUBERTUS

`k`
Given the choice I would use a .30-06 or .308 although the .270 would take good care of them , after-all the .270 is just a necked-down .30-06 anyway.
The .30-06 would be my first choice though because of the vast range of suitable bullets , I shot hundreds of Reds etc here with a .30-06 until the law changed in Ireland in 1993 and the calibre ceiling was raised to .270 from .22cfs.
I sold it then to fund the .270 Carl Gustaf with a Swarvoski scope.

H.

finnlite

i have noticed a trend hear hubertus ,there is a lot of guys shooting a few years or less with little experience in shooting in general .
let alone deer stalking and have never even see a muntjac.
but still are able to question some one like your self that have vast experience.

they dont under stand how some thing works or some one trying to do some good so they rubbish it or them.

there is one guy that is posting on this thread that only started shooting 3 years ago but to read his posts you would think he has a book out on the subject.

lordarpad

looking at the article linked earlier

"In these circumstances, however, the stalker may be presented with an ethical judgment, for the call is designed to imitate the sound of a muntjac fawn in distress and, naturally, it will often be mother who comes to investigate. Shooting her on sight may well result in a dependent fawn being orphaned. It is for this reason that the British Deer Society recommends that only fat (ie heavily pregnant) does are shot, since these will no longer have any dependant offspring. However, if a thin (ie lactating) doe comes to investigate your call, then it is likely that a buck will not be far away, and given a moment or two he may show himself, too. So it is worth holding your fire and waiting. "

The problem with that is that killing bucks does absolutely nothing for controlling the population.