Getting into deer stalking

newhunter

Hi all, just wanted to ask a few questions as i am thinking of getting into deer stalking. Been shooting for a few years now and always wanted to get into this with my cousin. Just wanted to know can we both be licensed on the one rifle? Also do we both be named on the permit to shoot deer or do we need one each
also could you let me know of any hidden costs that will be involved apart from rifle & scope? thanks in advance for all ye're advice

Mike87

newhunter wrote: »

Just wanted to know can we both be licensed on the one rifle?

Yep

newhunter wrote: »

Also do we both be named on the permit to shoot deer or do we need one each

You need one each

newhunter wrote: »

also could you let me know of any hidden costs that will be involved apart from rifle & scope?

Thats up to you really. Things you might need (or at the very least find very very handy) include: good knife, good binos, good clothing, boots, good rangefinder, HCAP (bit controversial but if your new then its worth it), garage/shed, good sturdy worktop, coca-cola fridges you see in shops, might need a van (you dont want to be throwing a dead deer into the back of the old BMW) and if you really want to go all out and out some lads buy quads to save having to haul a dead deer all the way back to the van

Deerspotter

Not to mention the Range Rover and the trailer, the trained dog, the walkie-talkies, the tissot T-Touch Expert, the Zeiss scope, the night-vision from Lidl and the most costly thing of all - the planning permission from the wife!

It wasn't me!

I'd say find someone to tag along with for this season and get loads of time on the ground in. That way you can spread your costs across two seasons to get started. You can get good clothing and binoculars, a knife or two and maybe a chiller of some sort this year and focus on a rifle early next year to be ready for the season in 2013. That way you needn't worry about things like deer licences this year, but will get seriously valuable experience in terms of stalking, animal behaviour and habits and working with them after they've been killed. You'll also have a while to pick up thoughts from here or from people you get into stalking with in terms of a good rifle and optic and anything else you may or may not need. You can kinda go as expensive as you like, but if you're a bit lucky and quick to get on top of good deals, you can pick up a lot of the gear for very reasonable prices.

In terms of a plan, have you had any thoughts yourself? If you've been shooting a few years, you're probably well sorted in terms of clothing, knives and binoculars and such, but have you been stalking before? If you wanted to, you could probably buy a rifle and be stalking for the hinds/does season this year if you're fairly well set in terms of experience and that, but if not, I'd say take this year as a learning one and you won't regret it down the line. you might even come across a good deal on some gear in the meantime, and there's certainly nothing wrong with buying a scope just because it pops up before the rifle. I had a good scope months before I bought a rifle to put it on, just because it stumbled out in front of me! Good luck, best hobby you could ask for.

Fallow01

newhunter wrote: »

Hi all, just wanted to ask a few questions as i am thinking of getting into deer stalking. Been shooting for a few years now and always wanted to get into this with my cousin. Just wanted to know can we both be licensed on the one rifle? Also do we both be named on the permit to shoot deer or do we need one each
also could you let me know of any hidden costs that will be involved apart from rifle & scope? thanks in advance for all ye're advice

The costs and your other questions have already been answered here but I'd also join one of the two deer organisations - Irish Deer Society or the Wild Deer Association of Ireland, the latter seem to be very active and run lots of events that would be of help to you - http://www.wilddeerireland.com or their on Facebook as well

Best of luck

howya mike

The two best bits of advice there was to go out with somebody experienced and I have to agree about wild deer Ireland as it costs very little and have very good events. Forget about the range rover, quad, trailer, zeiss scope and all the other bull**** the guys were joking about as all you really need is the licence which is free and suitable rifle, scope and knife to get started and as you gain more experience and hopefully win the lotto you can start upgrading. I'm twenty years at the deer and I have the cheapest of gear on me when I go out. I am however planning after all this time on upgrading the old Penny's jacket to something a little better:)
I just saved you about 80k-well done me:)

Jonty

It wasn't me! wrote: »

I'd say find someone to tag along with for this season and get loads of time on the ground in. That way you can spread your costs across two seasons to get started. You can get good clothing and binoculars, a knife or two and maybe a chiller of some sort this year and focus on a rifle early next year to be ready for the season in 2013. That way you needn't worry about things like deer licences this year, but will get seriously valuable experience in terms of stalking, animal behaviour and habits and working with them after they've been killed. You'll also have a while to pick up thoughts from here or from people you get into stalking with in terms of a good rifle and optic and anything else you may or may not need. You can kinda go as expensive as you like, but if you're a bit lucky and quick to get on top of good deals, you can pick up a lot of the gear for very reasonable prices.

In terms of a plan, have you had any thoughts yourself? If you've been shooting a few years, you're probably well sorted in terms of clothing, knives and binoculars and such, but have you been stalking before? If you wanted to, you could probably buy a rifle and be stalking for the hinds/does season this year if you're fairly well set in terms of experience and that, but if not, I'd say take this year as a learning one and you won't regret it down the line. you might even come across a good deal on some gear in the meantime, and there's certainly nothing wrong with buying a scope just because it pops up before the rifle. I had a good scope months before I bought a rifle to put it on, just because it stumbled out in front of me! Good luck, best hobby you could ask for.

Excellent advice. I'd just add that the binos are probably your most important bit of kit, so try and get the best ones you can. A lot of second hand binos still carry a lifetime warranty, so don't let the fact that they are second hand put you off.