Has anyone noticed the increased presence of deer

Trojan911

I've been out night shooting (foxes) over the last couple of weeks and noticed a lot of deer while lamping. They have been popping up in areas where they have never been seen before. I've also encountered them at night on the road whilst driving at weekends. Fantastic creatures to watch.

Anyone else noticed this?

TJ911...

cavan shooter

Good few around me in cavan and in sligo where I shoot with a friend of mine. They are not wanted by Farmers on their land and unfortunately some have been dispatched and not necessarily using appropriate calibers,scandalous part, they end up in the back of a ditch.

Trojan911

cavan shooter wrote: »

scandalous part, they end up in the back of a ditch.

What a complete waste, let alone the damage to the environment...

TJ911...

Mac Tire

It’s a disgrace to think that just because people see these animals, (here before us and probably after!), as being a problem that they are being so cruelly treated. They are a majestic sight and are not fully appreciated in this area by the sound of it…I hold a deer hunting license and various Coillte permits for the first time this year, and each time I go out stalking I find myself more interested in watching these animals than in pulling the trigger. To think that they are being dumped in ditches, well that’s just crazy in a country which was gripped by famine 160 years ago….

stevoman

Mac Tire wrote: »

To think that they are being dumped in ditches, well that’s just crazy in a country which was gripped by famine 160 years ago….

well said. they are a fantastic looking creature

CJhaughey

Yes, there are plenty of deer around, and whats more I can also state that I have found one shot with a small calibre round that obviously took a long time to die.
There was a large area of flattened grass around the animal in a circle.
I think it is terrible that people would use an obviously inadequate calibre for these or indeed any animal.
There have been 6 shot near me recently by a friend of mine, while I await my license for the .243.
If I don't get it soon there won't be any venison for me

Minkresearch

The deer 'rut' starts at the end of September and continues well into October and they are a lot more conspicuous at these times, this may heklp to account for your recent sightings. I came across a fallow deer stag within the City Limits of Galway, on the headford road. He was walking along the foot path at dusk. I'll try post the photo I took if anyones interested.

Trojan911

Minkresearch wrote: »

I came across a fallow deer stag within the City Limits of Galway, on the headford road. He was walking along the foot path at dusk. I'll try post the photo I took if anyones interested.

I've seen one of these fellas alright, strolling on the Ring road into Clonakilty recently. Tried to get a picture but he slipped off over a ditch, but fab to watch.

TJ911...

Double Barrel

Good looking Fallow buck.
They are 'hot to trot' around this time of the year.
I know many farmers and NO farmer would maim any animal with wanton disregard...nor leave it to die.

quackquackBOOM

Double Barrel wrote: »

I know many farmers and NO farmer would maim any animal with wanton disregard...nor leave it to die.

True not all would do it, but unfortunatly that dosent go for everybody,some farmers with crops or fences being trampled tend to hate them i know this is the case around my area,
i was asked to try to take one down with a shotgun, so i politely told him where to shove his fences and his land
,he has since told me that if i set foot on his land ill be prosicuted.
But alot are being shot round here recently i know of one man who shot 7 in the past month which i think is a bit unfair,i wouldnt mind if there was too many and they needed to cul them but this isnt the case, its just basic greed

Trojan911

quackquackBOOM wrote: »

i was asked to try to take one down with a shotgun, so i politely told him where to shove his fences and his land

Right 'n' proper too. There are other ways of scaring them off i.e. set up a crow banger in the area that shows evidence of deer or even human presence might deter them.

TJ911...

kerryman12

I tend to agree with double barrel here most guys would never wantly be cruel in this way, but of course one bad apple etc etc.
There is a balance to be struck in all things and deer numbers are no different but the onus is on us all to do this in a responsible manner.
most farmers I know in this situation are very selective in which guns they allow to shot on there land as a badly shot stag can take out a lot of fencing on the way off.

Keelan

Sorry to burst your bubble folks, but, in a lot of well known deer areas, they are on the dicline!!!!
Thanks to, poachers, trophy hunters and greedy licence holders, who are shooting for the numbers game and bosting how many they have got in a season!!!!!!....Buying in several freezers and trying their best to fill them up!!!

Very sad indeed.:(

Just because you have a deer permit, does not give you the right to go and shoot as many as you want, on any land you want, just for the sake of it!!
Some are getting deer permits like sweets getting handed out and a lot have never even shot a rabbit with a .22 rifle!!! These indaviduals, are going out and when they see a deer, get so worked up with buck fever, end up wounding the deer, or worse shooting in a dangerouse spot!!!

RESPECT, is a forgotten word, in this day and age of, greed, money obbsessed society we live in!!!!

Safe and sensible hunting to all.

Keelan.

bogteal

i think you make some very good points there keelan,but i know a good few stalkers and i cant say i have met any of the ones your talking about, while i know they are there i think most of the damage is done at night with lamps,talk to a lot of farmers they say lamping goes on every weekend i have come on deer shot with .22 shotgun gut shot leg shot some of poor deer take hours to die, i dont think i every heard of the rangers catching any one or even a court case in my area south galway and clare been stalking agood few years never meet a ranger, i think till they do some think about the lamping deer numbers will keep going down.

doctor evil

Declining?, Keelan they have no natural predators.... except for those that shoot them.

Our man in Havana

And there is the problem, they are being over shot.

doctor evil

Are they?, who has the figures on the amount being hunted. I don`t live in Wicklow but every time I pass through (frequently) I see a good number of them.

Our man in Havana

cavan shooter wrote: »

Good few around me in cavan and in sligo where I shoot with a friend of mine. They are not wanted by Farmers on their land and unfortunately some have been dispatched and not necessarily using appropriate calibers,scandalous part, they end up in the back of a ditch.

Are we talking jackasses using shotguns and .22 lr rifles on them? If so that is indeed incredibly cruel and barbaric. :mad:

Keelan

doctor evil wrote: »

Are they?, who has the figures on the amount being hunted. I don`t live in Wicklow but every time I pass through (frequently) I see a good number of them.

Wicklow, is well protected most of the time, with rangers. The deer their are thriving, but in most other areas, they are not!! Their is licenced stalkers out their, who cant be arsed to walk across ruged country to stalk their deer the right way, they would rather flash a high powerd lamp out the window of a car/van ect, onto a dazzled deer, shoot it, then go back and boast with tall stories on how they stalked it ect!!!!
The handing out of deer licences to all and saundry, without a proper check on how many is shot, is just silly!!
I had a deer cert from 97, till last year, untill i gave up shooting. Came across some characters in that time. Apart from cowboy poachers ect, their is also a good few licenced cowboys too!!!!
Its left a bad taste in my mouth!!
Dont get me rong, i still hunt, but these days, i just do a bit of ferreting and lurcher work, find it more relaxing, less stress from guards on certs ect and not having to fight a war with who has what shooting right over deer hunting territory ect ect, like children in a playground!!:rolleyes:

No, im much more happy now.;)

Once apon a time, deer stalkiing was fun and a relaxed way to cull the odd surplus deer, now, its a free for all!!!!!

Good night all.

keelan.