Sika Rutt

hazza

Been out 4 or 5 times now to a letting in Kerry and getting pretty frustrated that I havent seen a stag yet - plenty of hinds though.
Heard a stag / or two whistling the other evening but way far off. Are the Sika rutting around now or is it yet to happen??

Trojan911

hazza wrote: »

Been out 4 or 5 times now to a letting in Kerry and getting pretty frustrated that I havent seen a stag yet - plenty of hinds though.
Heard a stag / or two whistling the other evening but way far off. Are the Sika rutting around now or is it yet to happen??

Seen quite a few female Sika on our letting in Kerry last sunday week & three Red stags but no male sika at the moment. Gonna head down there again on wed evening, weather permitting, to see what's moving.

Sika_Stalker

The thing with deer is that they rut at differernt time in different places i shoot alot in kerry and in some of my areas they were rutting in the second last week in september but in another place they have been rutting for the past 3 weeks in that area a few miles down the road it is starting to slow down.
so what i am saying is that even though the rutt is hard on in one place it might not have even started in another it might take some time stil for the does to come into heat

hazza

So what your saying sika-stalker is that it is herd/area specific..... so it could already have happened:eek:.

I'm heading down again during the week weather permitting (think wednesday is forcasted good) so will get another look around.

One thing, during the rutt should'nt it be easier to come across stags as they are preoccupied with getting their end away??

Jonty

I'm working in Ballyogan Landfill at the moment, and seen 2 solid sika stags today.

DR6.5

Have to agree with Sika Stalker, its the same with the sika up in Dublin/Wicklow, stags rut earlier in certain areas, ive heard stags whistling into December a number of times, they will really start in the next couple of weeks, i was out over the weekend and saw a lot of stags moving but very few were actually whistling, i was watching one stag wallowing over the weekend black as the ace of spades, he was mad in the rut.

Another thing is that there are woods in Dublin and Wicklow that you wont see a stag in for most of the year and once the rut is in there are stags all over the wood likewise there are certain woods that you find stags in year round. The stags are just not in your lease at the minute.

sixpointfive

Ballyogan? i know of a few ballyogans and they are all in cities? any more specific, you dont have to give exact location just the county

Sika_Stalker

What im saying is that the rut all depends on the hinds
when its on its on
it might just be that its still abit early in your area

hazza

I had thought that the stags solely dictated the timing of the rutt but like you say Sika the hinds obviously play a part too.....aint nature grand although totally unpredictable.
Meanwhile will keep on enjoying the outings.

Sika_Stalker

totally unpredicable
last year in the same area it hadnt even started and now its about half finished

Jonty

sixpointfive wrote: »

Ballyogan? i know of a few ballyogans and they are all in cities? any more specific, you dont have to give exact location just the county

Ah no yer alright 6.5, its Ballyogan, Leopardstown, Dublin, in at the old landfill.

jwshooter

i was out on the hill this morning ,hibreds were roar n strong in the fog seen a lot of sika stags little or no whistle n and not a sound this eve ,deer are moving about strong

Sika_Stalker

ya jw i was speaking to a guy who went up your way for the weekend and he said that they didnt even hear 1 whistle but managed to shoot a nice hybrid

jwshooter

Sika_Stalker wrote: »

ya jw i was speaking to a guy who went up your way for the weekend and he said that they didnt even hear 1 whistle but managed to shoot a nice hybrid

was out at day light this morning mist on the high grounds so went lower in the rain seen three medal heads one poss the biggest sika iv seen each with hinds too good for shooting at this time of the rut . fair bit of whistle n but not a stir this eve in the rain .the morning should be good going by the forcast .the next two weeks in my book are the best for sika as the moon is bright .i love watch n deer in the rut .a rutting sika will look at you this time of the year as if to say what the **** are you doing on my hill bitch

John Griffin

jwshooter wrote: »

i love watch n deer in the rut .a rutting sika will look at you this time of the year as if to say what the **** are you doing on my hill bitch

So True:D:D:D

jwshooter

John Griffin wrote: »

So True:D:D:D

did you get wet today john will be in the glenmalure lodge for a coffee in the late morning if your about ,i might even buy

John Griffin

In Germany at the mo, be back tomorrow evening. Will meet up over the next week, will give ya a buzz. Did i get wet? i spent all day in a swimming pool with my son:D:D:D

jwshooter

John Griffin wrote: »

In Germany at the mo, be back tomorrow evening. Will meet up over the next week, will give ya a buzz. Did i get wet? i spent all day in a swimming pool with my son:D:D:D

thats grands so john .i spent the day in one two .god bless goretex

hazza

Just back to work from the lease in Kerry.
Had the ****e scared out of me by a sika I sneaked up on - when he whistled - never realised how loud they are. Jeez they're a handsome animal close up.
Of course in the bedlam I never even got the rifle off me shoulder.
Anyway what a great morning, heard another two stags around the woods and snuk up on a few hinds as well.
Could even hear the reds up on the hills roaring, so it sounds like some action happening at last down my way.

Trojan911

Went back myself to Kerry last evening & not a deer in sight. One extremely huge feral goat with the largest horns ever, crossed my path.

Oh, one female Sika ran out in front of the car not far from the let, but that was it.

hazza

Can you shoot feral goats........and more importantly can you eat them??
I know when I was in the UK a jamaican lad that worked with me used to rave about curried goat - but dont know if they were farmed or not.

Trojan911

hazza wrote: »

Can you shoot feral goats........

Not sure on that one, but we leave this fella alone. First time I have seen him up close (within 20 feet) was last night, it's always been at a distance on other times. Tried to get a snap but only got the back of him as he ran off.

sixpointfive

i cant see why you could not shoot them, i dont think they are protected and they are really good to eat, like really really good, i got a young one last year and it was without doubt the best piece of meat i have ever had and gave some to other shooters and they say same. hung for 2 weeks in cold room with skin on.Mint.

hazza

He's a big lad alright!.........those horns must be a couple of feet long ?:eek:
A shame he didnt hold still for his photo he must have had a beard bigger thatn santy's:D

BryanL

I have a goat curry everytime i go to Highbury to watch arsenal.

Sika_Stalker

heres a couple i found

Rovi

Sika_Stalker: I've taken the liberty of cropping and shrinking your image above, hope that's okay?

Sika_Stalker

Rovi wrote: »

Sika_Stalker: I've taken the liberty of cropping and shrinking your image above, hope that's okay?

Thanks Rovi was just about to do that

Trojan911

hazza wrote: »

He's a big lad alright!.........those horns must be a couple of feet long ?:eek:
A shame he didnt hold still for his photo he must have had a beard bigger thatn santy's:D

The little beggar wasn't in posing mood, I tried to fire a burst of shots (from the camera) from a sitting position to standing and the light was fading thus the blurring.

Sika_Stalker, how did you get those two to sit so still for you? You must give me a few tips.

Sika_Stalker

well trojan its a little thing called lead
:D:D:D:D

hazza

sixpointfive wrote: »

i cant see why you could not shoot them, i dont think they are protected and they are really good to eat, like really really good, i got a young one last year and it was without doubt the best piece of meat i have ever had and gave some to other shooters and they say same. hung for 2 weeks in cold room with skin on.Mint.

Me mouths watering at the prospect 6.5
.... and I can even smell the curry BrianL.

SikaStalker they're two fine specimens. Is it true that they are the smelliest brutes to handle and gralloch?
Mind you if they taste as good as 6.5 says, well worth it.

Sika_Stalker

well if you are looking for some thing to eat a kid goat in early july are really good

meathstevie

+1 Sika_Stalker

I have them fairly high on my to do list for next summer. There's a few of them knocking around in a patch of mixed forrestry and bog not too far away from me and for some reason I haven't gotten around to them yet. I know a few lads who regularly take one or two and keep the best meat for themselves and feed the rest to the dogs.

sixpointfive

Oh yes, i forgot to mention that you have to get a young goat, when they get big they are some minging a$$h0le$

dwighet

sixpointfive wrote: »

Oh yes, i forgot to mention that you have to get a young goat, when they get big they are some minging a$$h0le$

I would love to get amoungst some goat and try one in the oven...I hear they are very tasty..

Rovi

sixpointfive wrote: »

Oh yes, i forgot to mention that you have to get a young goat, when they get big they are some minging a$$h0le$

Well, don't eat that bit then

dwighet

Rovi wrote: »

Well, don't eat that bit then

nice one

fathersymes

Don't shoot them out though, it's nice to see a few around.

hazza

Fancy that I do, a nice bit of kid 'n chips / or steak an kid'nee pie.
But I'll steer clear of the big 'uns - dont think i'd have the stomach for em:eek:.
I'll have to pop over to the recipes section to see if there's anything for goat on there.

darraghsherwin

Hi,

I am photographer trying to capture deer in the rut.
I was up the Wicklow Gap between the 2 reservoirs and saw a few Sika and reds around 30mins before to 30mins after sunrise but couldn't get close enough to get a shot(photo, we all have triggers :-) ) .
I also walked up the Miners Road at Glendalough to Glenealo Valley and saw a few there but none of them in the rut. I could hear them rutting though.
I am planning to back this weekend about an hour before first light to get a few shots
Where is the best place to go in Wicklow to see deer in the rut?
And what is the best way to stalk them so early? Just keep silent and walk into the wind?
Thanks
Darragh

John Griffin

darraghsherwin wrote: »

Hi,

I am photographer trying to capture deer in the rut.
I was up the Wicklow Gap between the 2 reservoirs and saw a few Sika and reds around 30mins before to 30mins after sunrise but couldn't get close enough to get a shot(photo, we all have triggers :-) ) .
I also walked up the Miners Road at Glendalough to Glenealo Valley and saw a few there but none of them in the rut. I could hear them rutting though.
I am planning to back this weekend about an hour before first light to get a few shots
Where is the best place to go in Wicklow to see deer in the rut?
And what is the best way to stalk them so early? Just keep silent and walk into the wind?
Thanks
Darragh

You are in the right places at the right time, you have the right ideas about stalking. I'm guessing your looking for a shot of two stags locked in battle. You will be lucky to get that shot, you will rarely see stags fighting, you will see plenty of parralell walking and chasing, with loads of calling. Fighting is a last resort for the stags.

Mornings are best for activity but not the best for good light, you'll need plenty of light to get good shutter speeds to capture the action. You will need a minimum of a 400mm lens, the faster the better:). Get in close to a herd and sit tight and hope for the best, with any luck they will move to you and give you some action. Best of luck.:)