Deer Licence

Minky 123

Well Im looking into getting into deer stalking next year lads. Ive a good few permissions got with plenty of fallow deer on them already. I want to apply for a deer licence now. The application says any caliber bigger than .22, does this mean a .223 is allowed? I have a .223 for foxing so it would be handy to get the deer licence for it as I wound not have to trade up.

It wasn't me!

The criteria are a rifle of .22 calibre or more, firing a 55gr bullet minimum and producing 1700 ft/lbs of muzzle energy, so a .223 won't do it. However, a .22-250 or a .220 swift will, depending on the gun. Realistically, you're better off getting a .243 minimum though.

Minky 123

Do Ive to put a deposit on a .243 before I can apply for a deer licence?

It wasn't me!

Minky 123 wrote: »

Do Ive to put a deposit on a .243 before I can apply for a deer licence?

You'll need a serial number, so typically, you do end up getting the serial with a deposit on the gun, aye. However, since you have the .223 for foxing, you could go a little heavier than a 243 for deer. Maybe get a .308 or a .30-06 or the like in case you get an opportunity to hunt abroad.

Minky 123

It wasn't me! wrote: »

You'll need a serial number, so typically, you do end up getting the serial with a deposit on the gun, aye. However, since you have the .223 for foxing, you could go a little heavier than a 243 for deer. Maybe get a .308 or a .30-06 or the like in case you get an opportunity to hunt abroad.

Well in the current economic climate it would be almost impossible for me to run two centrefire rifles. (Im a full time student) Would a .243 have a wider range of bullets compared to 22-250 for foxing. Id really only want to shoot 1 maybe two deer a year for my own freezer unless the farmer wanted a few.

DR6.5

Id go for a .243 if i were you, you could use 95 grain sst for deer and if your shooting foxes hornady do a 58 grain vmax which would be savage for shooting foxes.

For the .22-250 to be legal you need 60 grain ammo and they are very hard to source.


dr6.5

Tackleberrywho

.243 is your best middle ground.

Swap your .223 for it.

As DR said Hornady do some screamers of varmint rounds for .243, yet you can get heavier rounds that will easily knock a deer.

Several friends of mine shoot .243.
I know of 1 confirmed kill on a fox during daylight @450 yards with one.

I also know several serious hunters who shoot 10-30 deer per year with a .243 using Hornady SST ammo.

The .308 is a tad more recoil for foxes than the .243.

Make sure you get a rifle threaded for a moderator as I am sure you know .223 and upwards are seriously loud

garv123

.243 is great for both foxes and deer.
you can zero it for lighter cheaper ammo on foxes during the summer and when the seasons closed and then when the season opens re-zero it for deer, and you can still use it for foxes with th heavier grain ammo. (seen the damage up close is a bit stomach turning )

Minky 123

Do I just fill out a deer licence application, sent it to the nwps and wait for a deer licence? Is it just a straight forward substitution from the .223 to the .243?

DR6.5

You will need to get the folio number for the land that you have permission for, its your first licence so a ranger will more than likely go out and check the ground to see there is deer present.

You will be able to substitute the .223 for .243 its a staright swap no extra charge for the license.

dr6.5

Tackleberrywho

Minky 123 wrote: »

Do I just fill out a deer licence application, sent it to the nwps and wait for a deer licence? Is it just a straight forward substitution from the .223 to the .243?

You need any Departmental ID numbers for the land.
Some farmers do not have Folio numbers if it is cutaway bog, or drained lake etc.

Folio numbers are on the deeds of the land.
You will have to get the farmer to dig out his deeds.

Or if he receives area-aid of single farm payment he will also have a number that NPWS will accept, they just prefer Folio numbers for handiness.

That is the main reason some farmers are hesitant as they do not like filling out forms

Minky 123

How many acres would be enough for a licence im in the midlands and the land would be beside a reserved wooded area which is managed by coilte.

Tackleberrywho

Minky 123 wrote: »

How many acres would be enough for a licence im in the midlands and the land would be beside a reserved wooded area which is managed by coilte.

Depends on deer population.

Most use 80-100 acres as it is an average sized farm.
Nowhere written in stone.

It's at the discretion of the wildlife ranger.
Is the deer population dense in your area?

If there are a lot of deer in the forestry and they are going on to your permissions land, then you may not need a huge farm, however if there is only a couple of deer in an area it can be difficult to get a permit.

I know fellas who were refused as there was already 2 stalkers using it, or that land had a low deer population

Ballybay might give you the number of the ranger in your area and you could ring them and ask.

Edit, check out your ranger area
http://www.npws.ie/en/media/NPWS/Images/Contact_numbers.pdf

vixdname

It wasn't me! wrote: »

You'll need a serial number, so typically, you do end up getting the serial with a deposit on the gun, aye. However, since you have the .223 for foxing, you could go a little heavier than a 243 for deer. Maybe get a .308 or a .30-06 or the like in case you get an opportunity to hunt abroad.

Can you go hunting abroad with a .270 ?

tfox

vixdname wrote: »

Can you go hunting abroad with a .270 ?

Can only speak for France and they prefer 6.5x55 and up for boar, but no .308 or 30.06's allowed there as they are considered a military round !!

Last time I was over eyed up a couple of nice .270 and 300win mag semi-autos

It wasn't me!

vixdname wrote: »

Can you go hunting abroad with a .270 ?

Depends on the country/outfitter/game in question. For most hunting in Europe, particularly the mountainy stuff for ibex or chamois, a .270 is pretty common (thought a lot of outfitters I looked at in Spain wanted a minimum of a .270 with 140gr bullet, so bear in mind other considerations like that). It'd be absolutely minimal for wild boar and the like, where more thump is typically used, not to get into the how much is enough/can there be too much argument. Hell, if you wanted one rifle to do it all, hard to argue with a .375 H&H, but chances are you won't shoot it enough to get really competent the way you will with a .270 or the like. Given the choice of either where bigger game is on the menu though, I know which I'll take.