Out for a walk on my Stalking Lett this afternoon.

clivej

Took a drive and walk around my stalking Lett this afternoon to see what could be there for the start of the new season. Saw a dozen or so Deer both Bucks and Does.
I had the camera with me for a couple of the sightings and it's looking as good as last year.

Doe and Calf about 150m away.







Nice Buck that I hope to see in a few weeks time again about 150m away
I've noted where this Buck was getting into the field.

juice1304

cool. i wish i had the monies to get set up stalking this year but alas i am broke again, next year for sure though.

It wasn't me!

Clive, if I were you I'd be doing anything in my power to keep that buck alive for a few years. Feckin' camp out there to scare him away rather than have some poxy poacher shoot him and he'll be an absolute beauty well worthy of taking for a trophy when the time comes.

Cass

Looks promising clive. Nice one.:cool:

johngalway

You'll have a full freezer for the year Clive!

It wasn't me!

johngalway wrote: »

You'll have a full freezer for the year Clive!

He feckin' will. When I was down he was stuffing me full of last year's stuff to make room! A very solid few meals of good venison!

clivej

It wasn't me! wrote: »

He feckin' will. When I was down he was stuffing me full of last year's stuff to make room! A very solid few meals of good venison!

And you weren't pushing any of it away. Did you eat those rabbits you shot here yet ??

I'm down to 16 x 1/4 pounder burgers and 1 roast, it'll all soon be gone.


I saw a good few Bucks as big last year but never had the rifle out at the same time

It wasn't me!

clivej wrote: »

And you weren't pushing any of it away. Did you eat those rabbits you shot here yet ??

I'm down to 16 x 1/4 pounder burgers and 1 roast, it'll all soon be gone.


I saw a good few Bucks as big last year but never had the rifle out at the same time

Damn straight I wasn't. I've never yet been known to turn down good venison. They're in the freezer. Think I'll be making a nice hot curry tomorrow though.

jay.b

nice pics clive, i was out myself this afternoon checking out a new permission i got. i didnt see any deer but there was plenty of signs, lots of droppings and the like. but on an even better note i got two new permissions in the area. it really pays to stop and have a chat;) im so looking forward to my first season !

Tackleberrywho

jay.b wrote: »

nice pics clive, i was out myself this afternoon checking out a new permission i got. i didnt see any deer but there was plenty of signs, lots of droppings and the like. but on an even better note i got two new permissions in the area. it really pays to stop and have a chat;) im so looking forward to my first season !

+1
I got 2 new Stalking permissions this summer.
Busy winter keeping all them permissions happy though :eek:

Birdnuts

It apears to have been a bumper breeding season in these parts too given the number of fawns knocking around the place this summer - thankfully the bad weather in May/June does not appear to have affected productivity:)

Vegeta

Great pics Clive, wish you luck and successful stalking this season.

Thanks for sharing.

clivej

Birdnuts wrote: »

It apears to have been a bumper breeding season in these parts too given the number of fawns knocking around the place this summer - thankfully the bad weather in May/June does not appear to have affected productivity:)

Last winter although very cold and what with all the snow did not sem to effect the deer to much here. I was out when there was 6" + of snow and -10 C on the car dashboard. But in the forest and under cover there was still plenty of fodder for them to eat. And I think the trees gave them the protection they need to keep warm and out of the chilling wind.

Birdnuts

clivej wrote: »

Last winter although very cold and what with all the snow did not sem to effect the deer to much here. I was out when there wae 6" + of snow and -10 C on the car dashboard. But in the forest and under cover there was still plenty of fodder for them to eat. And I think the trees gave them the protection they need to keep warm and out of the chilling wind.

Yes - there is no doubt that the spread of forestry over the last few decades has allowed our deer species to conquer much new territory. I even clocked a massive stag a few years back near Belmullet Co. Mayo where deer would have been unknown only a few years before on that side of Bangor Erris:eek::cool:

podge.243

Lovely picture's there Clive they look fine and healthy, i say your looking forward for the season:) well its nearly here:D

widespread

Does that stag look like his still in velvet? Is it a bit late for that..

clivej

widespread wrote: »

Does that stag look like his still in velvet? Is it a bit late for that..

I think it was still in velvet looking back now and at the photos. He'lll have that off soon enough

dwighet

clivej wrote: »

I think ot was still in velvet looking back now and at the photos. He'lll have that off soon enough

That buck in the pic is in full velvet still....
i went for a look out that way a while back when the antlers should of been dropped but saw a few still sporting there hardware...

its a global warming thing

clivej

clivej wrote: »

I think it was still in velvet looking back now and at the photos. He'lll have that off soon enough

dwighet wrote: »

That buck in the pic is in full velvet still....
i went for a look out that way a while back when the antlers should of been dropped but saw a few still sporting there hardware...

its a global warming thing

I was reading up on the Fallow from a British Deer Socity booklet that I got at the Birr Game Fair and that says the velvet won't come off until late August. So the photo does show that Buck still in velvet.

Tackleberrywho

clivej wrote: »

I was reading up on the Fallow from a British Deer Socity booklet that I got at the Birr Game Fair and that says the velvet won't come off until late August. So the photo does show that Buck still in velvet.

I shot 3 prickets in July, 2 had velvet one did not.
It depends on how big a rack they have to grow as the older the animal is the longer and generally their antlers grow.
Velvet is only there when the antler is still alive

clivej

clivej wrote: »

I was reading up on the Fallow from a British Deer Socity booklet that I got at the Birr Game Fair and that says the velvet won't come off until late August. So the photo does show that Buck still in velvet.

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

I shot 3 prickets in July, 2 had velvet one did not.
It depends on how big a rack they have to grow as the older the animal is the longer and generally their antlers grow.
Velvet is only there when the antler is still alive

I was quoting from the experts booklet.

Tackleberrywho

clivej wrote: »

I was quoting from the experts booklet.

I did not say you were wrong clive.
The animal in your pic is a big animal and thus takes longer to fully grow his rack and therefore will shed later than a younger animal.

A younger buck would have no velvet on now.
If I get a chance today I'll try to get a pic of deer with and without velvet in the same field

There can be a variation of up to 41 days in when a deer sheds his velvet
http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/volume/rsnz_82/rsnz_82_02_005230.pdf

underthetumb

was out on my let, saw loads of deer knockin about, cant get over it am delighted. whether they are around in 3 weeks is unlikely. i saw 2 prickets together, one was in bright red coat, they other a light grey, the red one was in velvet, the grey wasnt. is there any link

FISMA

Take it easy on them Clive and leave a few for Nov!

clivej

FISMA wrote: »

Take it easy on them Clive and leave a few for Nov!

I know where your coming from ;);) See ya soon, I can't wait

Thinking back to that Buck now and the coming season I don't think I would have shoot it as I'm not into Trophy heads just grub for the table.

I know "Her that must be obeyed" would ware a Buck wall hung head off my head, End of story.:o:o

brian67

Nice photos say you would like to have the cross hears on them only a few more weeks. Come on the 1st!!!!!!!!