looking for someone to go deer hunting in East Clare

Builderfromhell

I live near Scarriff in East Clare and have been looking into applying for a gun licence and getting permission from local farmers to shoot deer.
I have been looking at costs associated with deer hunting and thought I should try to accompany someone or some people hunting in this area before I spend money on a gun, scope, weather proof clothes etc.
The logic being, I might discover I don't like it as a sport and don't want to have gone to all the trouble and expense of getting licensed and bought a rifle.

I have a Hilux Pick up which has been lifted and has mud tyres.
Would be happy to accomodate anyone coming over for a w/end. I should be able to get permission from local farmers to shoot on their land.

crackcrack30

Most people start young with dogs and shotguns ect, and from my experience handed down from father to son ect progressing to other areas like stalking . If you like and appreciate nature in general get out hill walking hiking , bird watching , photography ect . if you like what you see and want to progress to hunting join a club or buy a shotgun and do a spot of phesent/ duck shooting............first, contary to belief theres nothing and i mean nothing easy about deer hunting and it takes years / skill to do/learn right.....

P.S I wouldnt just let anyone with a gun into my car. The film deliverence springs to mind, were they hunting pigs:rolleyes: I cant remember:p

Glensman

crackcrack30 wrote: »

Most people start young with dogs and shotguns ect, and from my experience handed down from father to son ect progressing to other areas like stalking . If you like and appreciate nature in general get out hill walking hiking , bird watching , photography ect . if you like what you see and want to progress to hunting join a club or buy a shotgun and do a spot of phesent/ duck shooting............first, contary to belief theres nothing and i mean nothing easy about deer hunting and it takes years / skill to do/learn right.....

P.S I wouldnt just let anyone with a gun into my car. The film deliverence springs to mind, were they hunting pigs:rolleyes: I cant remember

:eek::eek::eek: :rolleyes:

Builderfromhell

crackcrack30 wrote: »

Most people start young with dogs and shotguns ect, and from my experience handed down from father to son ect progressing to other areas like stalking . If you like and appreciate nature in general get out hill walking hiking , bird watching , photography ect . if you like what you see and want to progress to hunting join a club or buy a shotgun and do a spot of phesent/ duck shooting............first, contary to belief theres nothing and i mean nothing easy about deer hunting and it takes years / skill to do/learn right.....

P.S I wouldnt just let anyone with a gun into my car. The film deliverence springs to mind, were they hunting pigs:rolleyes: I cant remember:p

Thanks for reply.
I do in fact use my 4x4 to get to remote mountainy forest areas to take photos. Mostly in the winter when there is snow on the ground. I do enjoy nature and having spent much of my life overseas I find the Irish countryside to be some of the most beautiful I have ever seen.
I have some shooting experience with high velocity rifles and many years ago was an good marksman.

I would prefer to go directly to shooting deer as I don't think I would enjoy hunting small birds and animals.

P.S. No psycopaths please:rolleyes:

juice1304

If you don't want to hunt birds why not try rabbits and the like with a rifle. I think you may find it hard getting a super to grant you a license for a high powered rifle for hunting if you don't have much experience. It'd also help in getting used to shooting again. Taking an animals life is a big responsibility and you want to make sure you don't end up injuring or maiming an animal only for someone like a landowner to find it as it would'nt go down well. I'm not saying you are a bad shot i am just generalizing. I think you should start small and work your way up. a .308/6.5/.243etc can travel a hell of a lot farther than a .22 and carry alot more energy. I myself have wanted to hunt deer since i was a child and that is one of the main reasons i got into shooting and am only now starting to get into stalking after two years. But to each their own.
All the best in you new hobby.:)

Builderfromhell

juice1304 wrote: »

If you don't want to hunt birds why not try rabbits and the like with a rifle. I think you may find it hard getting a super to grant you a license for a high powered rifle for hunting if you don't have much experience. It'd also help in getting used to shooting again. Taking an animals life is a big responsibility and you want to make sure you don't end up injuring or maiming an animal only for someone like a landowner to find it as it would'nt go down well. I'm not saying you are a bad shot i am just generalizing. I think you should start small and work your way up. a .308/6.5/.243etc can travel a hell of a lot farther than a .22 and carry alot more energy. I myself have wanted to hunt deer since i was a child and that is one of the main reasons i got into shooting and am only now starting to get into stalking after two years. But to each their own.
All the best in you new hobby.:)

Point taken.
I am thinking if I did start with a 22 or shotgun to get experience and establish reputation with Gardai before applying for permit for higher powered rifle.
But would it be difficult to then sell on a 22 or shotgun after I no longer use them.

davymoore

I'm not too far from you, I live in Quin and though I don't hunt deer myself I know a good few lads around here that do. You've had very good advice about starting out small and if I were you I'd really take that on board.

You are going to have to develop a relationship with the Super in Ennis before you are going to be granted a lisence for a large caliber high velocity rifle. You will be expected to apply, hold and own a less powerfull weapon for a while before being allowed to cut loose on your own with something high powered. Start with the Shotgun (Pheasants etc.) work up to the .22 after a year or so and then apply for a deer lisence.

There's a few dealers around Clare (Tulla for example) and they would be happy to take trade ins as you progress through the ranks.

poulo6.5

if you have permission from a farmer that has deer on his land and you are interested in learning how to stalk and whats involved then give me a pm and we can arrange to meet up and go for a shot.

i admire you for asking for someone to help you instead of just running out and buying a rifle.

as said above there is more to shooting than just pulling the trigger.

vixdname

Hi Builderfromhell, I was in a similar situation to you, this time last year.

Only difference between us was that I had had multiple rifles of various calibers from .22LR to .22 magnum, .220 swift and .223s aswell as shotguns.
I hunted rabbits and foxes for years with my father until I got my first gun myself at 17yrs old, so all in all had 28 yrs experience hunting and only last season did I decide I'd try and progress into the deer stalking.

I was extremely lucky that one of the lads on here offered to take me out for a stalk with him on his lease and I loved it from then on.
Since then, and with much advise and help from my buddy I got my hcap etc done and am now on the same lease as my buddy this season.
I cant recommend enough the importance of getting practical experience with someone who knows what they're doing so if you can take Paulo up on his very very kind offer, then do so , big time because only for lads like himself and my buddy theres a lot of us would have taken a lot longer to get ourselves sorted out on the stalking front and probably would have made some stupid mistakes in the process.
Its a long and expensive road to get started on your first season, but damn worth it when you're strolling at day break in a large wood, no one but yourself, your rifle and the scenery to keep you company, and you know what I've learned first and foremost, even if you go out and dont get a shot at a deer then so what? The walk, the fresh air and the wildlife around your is just as important and satisfying as getting a kill...for me any way !

Best of luck to you !

Builderfromhell

vixdname wrote: »

Hi Builderfromhell, I was in a similar situation to you, this time last year.

Only difference between us was that I had had multiple rifles of various calibers from .22LR to .22 magnum, .220 swift and .223s aswell as shotguns.
I hunted rabbits and foxes for years with my father until I got my first gun myself at 17yrs old, so all in all had 28 yrs experience hunting and only last season did I decide I'd try and progress into the deer stalking.

I was extremely lucky that one of the lads on here offered to take me out for a stalk with him on his lease and I loved it from then on.
Since then, and with much advise and help from my buddy I got my hcap etc done and am now on the same lease as my buddy this season.
I cant recommend enough the importance of getting practical experience with someone who knows what they're doing so if you can take Paulo up on his very very kind offer, then do so , big time because only for lads like himself and my buddy theres a lot of us would have taken a lot longer to get ourselves sorted out on the stalking front and probably would have made some stupid mistakes in the process.
Its a long and expensive road to get started on your first season, but damn worth it when you're strolling at day break in a large wood, no one but yourself, your rifle and the scenery to keep you company, and you know what I've learned first and foremost, even if you go out and dont get a shot at a deer then so what? The walk, the fresh air and the wildlife around your is just as important and satisfying as getting a kill...for me any way !

Best of luck to you !

Poetically put.
Among other things I collect wild mushrooms from deciduose woods and the same logic applies. The beauty, fresh air, sounds in the woods at dawn are inspiring. It makes no sense to expend time, energy and diesel to collect mushrooms that you can buy in a shop for a euro.
But the ones I collect taste good because of the experience.
I guess the same logic applies to fishing.

Have had several offers from folk on here to take a novice out and am very impressed by the people on this forum.
Will get some sleep and make plans tomorrow.

Feidhlim Dignan

Builderfromhell wrote: »

Point taken.
I am thinking if I did start with a 22 or shotgun to get experience and establish reputation with Gardai before applying for permit for higher powered rifle.
But would it be difficult to then sell on a 22 or shotgun after I no longer use them.

once you get a .22 and do a bit of shooting with it you wont ever want to get rid of it. but you might want another