Less than a week to go.

Cass

So with less than a week to go what will you be at on the 1st?

Feisar

I'll be working but roll on the weekend, heading down to Dad's home place for a crack at the ducks and maybe a stalk.

Richie Drumm

First time duck shooter this coming season- can anyone tell me where is the best spot to access Lough Sheelin? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

J.R.

Working on the 1st.

Will go for a walk at the weekend to see if there are any duck about.

J.R.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117817922#Comment_117817922

Never hunted on Lough Sheelin.

This map

shows where the piers & car parks are.

Richie Drumm

Brilliant! Much obliged to you J.R I think the map will be really helpful 👍👍👍

Rescueme0007

Well tomorrow (01st Sept) I'll be working, but hoping to find a volunteer Sika on Friday if the the weather holds up!😄

kunekunesika

Hoping to head for sika tommorow evening. Wind direction forecast, has made me have to think carefully? the usual spotsd won't be a runner. Good luck and safe hunting to all.

Grizzly 45

Well its that time of year again lads .Wishing you all a safe and successful season,and may Artemis (Godess of the hunt) smile on you occasionally in the season.

Regds

Grizzly.

clivej

Wishing you all the best for the season lads, feather or fur may your aim be small.

It's not looking like I'll be out at all with health reasons this year, maybe for a shot in the new year all being well.

Cass

Anyone any stories or photos?

tomtucker81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117837529#Comment_117837529

Getting out later today for the 1st attempt of the season.

Had 2 good months on a Sec 42 during the summer. With the rifle tightened up with a new stock, better scope and finding the right ammo for the rifle, on the Sec 42 I've managed my longest shot (343mtrs), graduated to trying for a frontal shot as opposed to heart/lungs/broadside(done at 110mtrs) and finally decided to go for a headshot (86mtrs).

I've realised the frontal shot meant the deer actually ran towards me after it was hit for a few metres, making it easier. The headshot was dropped on the spot and maximum meat retention.

It has highlighted to me the difference in being confident in your setup and then yourself as a result. The shooting improves dramatically which in turn is much fairer on the animal being hunted too.

Been waiting the last few weeks now to get back out!

**Update..not a sign of anything in the fields. Like the deer know its September. I did hear a stag calling in the forest(very small coillte woods- not shot in) beside me, which I thought it was a bit early for so thought it was someone using a caller. However it called again about 10 minutes later further along in the forest. Anyone hear any calls yet or is it still a bit too early for that?

Feisar

We got off the mark with one duck. The lake was very quiet, feck all duck about. We were chatting after an uneventful flight and two duck appeared behind us over a tree line dropping down to the lake. Dad spotted them and shouted me. I was swinging one way and the duck coming the other, bad footing and a poor mount plus at the fringes distance wise but I dropped one well. Alpha Max 4, accept no substitute. All the negatives must have cancelled each other out, although not to blow my own coal but I do seem to thrive on a reflex shot. Had to strip to the skin to get him as we hadn’t a dog.

On a separate note went for a drive last night and we got a fox. I would have said 75 yards but this morning the laser said fifty!

Cass

Into the final week of the opening month.

How is everyone getting on? Any good pictures or stories?

tomtucker81

Off the mark with 1 little pricket last Tuesday on new ground. Good to get started. Plenty of activity with hinds and young visible.

Earlier in the day me and the brother sat back and watched 2 stags lock antlers. Circling each other, locking up, circling. Went on for a good 15 minutes. Eventually the smaller stag just suddenly turned and ran.

Now to clarify....they were approximately 1.8kms away as per Google maps, far off our land and past a coillte forest and out on a national park. So no option but to sit and watch the show. Spectacular.

robbiearmst

My first year on the deer and two for the freezer, absolutely loved the hike for these two (both shot a week apart). Hooked now, amazing experience and hopefully more to come.

Cass

Wow.

That is some picture, absolutely briliant. Congrats on the Deer, too. Looks a good hike and great story to tell.

tomtucker81

Was rang by a friend to come down to a farmer he knows, deer on his land and he decided he wanted venison so I got the call to help out.

'What kind of deer?'

'They're brown anyway...'

'Oh right. Sure I'll have a look'. With much scepticism.

Anyway, it's in a known fallow area. Came face to face with this about 3 hours ago. Beautiful to see, as I've never hunted reds before. Can't upload the video so these are screenshot. But some experience. See you in 4 weeks....

For good measure, as I walked along, a stag jumped out into the clearing about 5 metres from me. Scared the sh1t out of me😂 before I could react he turned and ran back in. I've never seen reds in the flesh so this was some mornings walk. Really big animals.

Conclusion....I'm gonna need a bigger fridge.

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tomtucker81

First red stag. Delighted. Only a 6 pointer but some difference in size to the sika.

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kunekunesika

Congratulations. Much and all as I dream of reds, I reckon sika are plenty big.

Cass

That is a fine animal. You won't forget your first Red in a hurry.

Haven't seen many Reds since I had to "abandon" my old permissions. Poaching is out of control on it.

It'll be a couple of weeks before I head out. Don't know why but I prefer to wait to early/mid November before heading out. Started off as simply waiting for the "rush" to subside but has become a habit.

Grizzly 45

Just in from the field from the Reds and sika.VERY quiet out there this AM and PM.Usually, you'd hear a Red bellowing at this time of the year and with the dry patch and cold wind you would think they would be out on the Western slopes catching some rays and it should be mid rut by now. But nothing so far this year.🤔

Birdnuts

Took my first Gadwal 2day among a half dozen mallard on my Turlough permisson. Have them hanging atm so can't wait to see how this lad tastes compared to my usual wild duck dishes.

Cass

Have you tried a plum sauce with the Duck? Had one years ago, but have never been able to replicate it since.

Cass

Just realised, tomorrow is "D-Day". How many of you heading out?

Feisar

Yea for us The 1st meant the 1st of Nov. Chained to the desk, Dad is out though, will give him a shout later to see how he got on.

tomtucker81

Had some knowledge of an area of thick undergrowth I spotted a sika herd hanging out in toward the end of last season on one permission and purposely stayed away from it during the off season, no walking etc through it.

Went there this morning and after walking carefully for about 40 metres came across the herd of sika. Only 20 metres or so away. Down onto the bipod and waited, a hind walked into the crosshairs in a clearing completely unaware of my presence. Neck shot and done. All done and back at the car within an hour. Delighted.

Now to leave them alone for another few weeks.

Mississippi.

Was out for a few hours this afternoon and seen nothing, had all packed up in the car and went for a nosey in some wallsteads beside where I was parked and raised a woodcock just at the ditch.

Rescueme0007

Took a Sika hind (not more than two years old) a couple of evenings ago, in superb condition, very small number of ticks and fat as butter. Such a pleasure to be out in pretty much ideal conditions.

Cass

I hate Ticks. Was it just that one or are they down this year. I'd have thought given the consistently warm year they may be more prevalent.

keith s

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After a non start last year, managed to get my first Buck two weeks ago.