help help help

6.5 tikka

lads im looking for any info at all on starting deer stalking
been shooting guns since the age 11, 12, im 33 know and have a few guns at the min,
but feel the need for something bigger ,

im finding it hard to get permission , thats the biggest problem i have,
i have a gun picked out an all , i can get refs from farmer i shoot for at the min,
im very safe when it comes to shoot in my mind you can never be to safe,

im thinking about heading up to donegal and knocking on doors for as long as it takes looking for permission , is that a good idea ? dont want to piss anyone off at the same time,

could any one point me the right way to go about things , even what parts of donegal to head to ? or is there any clubs looking for new members ?

thanks guys hope to here back from yas , only new the this site

One shot on kill

I dont know much about Donegal area. But I've been trying to go stalking for 3-4 years now and trying to get permission for two years now and had noting but no no no. Finally this year I got sorted by pure fluke and everything is just falling into place now. Thank god.

There is loads of genuine guys that will help you here but you really need to keep knocking on doors and stay trying.it will happen soon enough.

6.5 tikka

One shot on kill wrote: »

I dont know much about Donegal area. But I've been trying to go stalking for 3-4 years now and trying to get permission for two years now and had noting but no no no. Finally this year I got sorted by pure fluke and everything is just falling into place now. Thank god.

There is loads of genuine guys that will help you here but you really need to keep knocking on doors and stay trying.it will happen soon enough.

i know its a nightmare but im not going to give up on it , i drove all over wicklow last week and as you said all i got was no no no , going to donegal on monday and im not coming home untill i get yes yes yes lol, whats the min amount of land i need ?

Cass

6.5 tikka wrote: »

................. whats the min amount of land i need ?

Deer licenses are based on deer population/herd sizes on the land you nominate. So the amount is not as important as whether there are deer, and can it support you, and any other shooter using those lands.

However it's best to have at least two permissions (obviously the more the merrier) and at least 100 acres. I must stress that this is only my opinion, and not a legal requirement for the license.

6.5 tikka

One shot on kill wrote: »

I dont know much about Donegal area. But I've been trying to go stalking for 3-4 years now and trying to get permission for two years now and had noting but no no no. Finally this year I got sorted by pure fluke and everything is just falling into place now. Thank god.

There is loads of genuine guys that will help you here but you really need to keep knocking on doors and stay trying.it will happen soon enough.

oh im glad to hear you got sorted out, hope you have a great time pal

6.5 tikka

Cass wrote: »

Deer licenses are based on deer population/herd sizes on the land you nominate. So the amount is not as important as whether there are deer, and can it support you, and any other shooter using those lands.

However it's best to have at least two permissions (obviously the more the merrier) and at least 100 acres. I must stress that this is only my opinion, and not a legal requirement for the license.

cheers cass, i think your right i was thinking a 100acres myself.
would you know anything about where to head in donegal ?

Cass

Not a notion lad.

Never shot in Donegal, and bar one long road trip many years ago, have not been in the county. Sorry.

However the knocking on door method is really the only option.

Have to ask. Do you know anyone in Donegal. Have you friends or family. If you do use them as ice breakers to get talking to people. Even if they don;t know the people if you have someone with the same accent, that knows the area it's much easier.

When i first moved down from Dublin i got all no's at the door because of the "scanger" accent. However a friend introduced me to a farmer, and it snowballed from there.

One shot on kill

Ye its a land minimum of 100 acres if its from 1 farmer or 2 but it always helps to have 2 permissions. Then as said above its all down to the population of deer in the land and how many hunters there is on that piece of land.

Can I ask have you ever stalked with another hunter before.

6.5 tikka

One shot on kill wrote: »

Ye its a land minimum of 100 acres if its from 1 farmer or 2 but it always helps to have 2 permissions. Then as said above its all down to the population of deer in the land and how many hunters there is on that piece of land.

Can I ask have you ever stalked with another hunter before.

yeah ive being out a good few times, but the guy i went wit is dead now , ive only shot two wit that guy one was at 300 350 yards and i got him in the head ,

6.5 tikka

Cass wrote: »

Not a notion lad.

Never shot in Donegal, and bar one long road trip many years ago, have not been in the county. Sorry.

However the knocking on door method is really the only option.

Have to ask. Do you know anyone in Donegal. Have you friends or family. If you do use them as ice breakers to get talking to people. Even if they don;t know the people if you have someone with the same accent, that knows the area it's much easier.

When i first moved down from Dublin i got all no's at the door because of the "scanger" accent. However a friend introduced me to a farmer, and it snowballed from there.

you know ive only been there the once myself, well i woke up there i should say hahaha after a night out in monaghan , and i wouldnt know anyone from donegal , but i have heard there lots of deer up that way , and yeah the ole dub accent isnt helping things i dont think , and im far from a scanger , my dad shot wit this guy 20 years ago and i got in touch wit him today and he knows a guy wit 500 acres down in clonslee and touch wood he`ll get me permission , but its just so in can get my gun, dont think ill be able to shoot it:(

One shot on kill

Ah right because I was going to suggest getting out with someone first to see the crack and all that's involved.

Just keep knocking.

6.5 tikka

One shot on kill wrote: »

Ah right because I was going to suggest getting out with someone first to see the crack and all that's involved.

Just keep knocking.

well if theres any offers id go along just to see how other people do it ,
i love the hunt like , that can be better then taking the shot , well not really but you know what i mean, its all good, and im not a know it all theres always room to learn ,

the shooting part of it isnt a problem dont mean to sound big headed but im a very good shot , im a member of a shooting range , and i do be shooting rabbits in the head at 100/150 yards at night wit my 22 and it an old gun , and dont have a problem cutting the meat up ,

something i dont know about is how you can tell if the deer has tb or not, but as i said always room to learn

TriggerPL

6.5 tikka wrote: »

yeah ive being out a good few times, but the guy i went wit is dead now , ive only shot two wit that guy one was at 300 350 yards and i got him in the head ,

Did you try asking on the land your friend was hunting , explain that he use to being you with him and now he is gone , you would like to take up the role .

sniperman

6.5 tikka wrote: »

well if theres any offers id go along just to see how other people do it ,
i love the hunt like , that can be better then taking the shot , well not really but you know what i mean, its all good, and im not a know it all theres always room to learn ,

the shooting part of it isnt a problem dont mean to sound big headed but im a very good shot , im a member of a shooting range , and i do be shooting rabbits in the head at 100/150 yards at night wit my 22 and it an old gun , and dont have a problem cutting the meat up ,

something i dont know about is how you can tell if the deer has tb or not, but as i said always room to learn

hi there,wish i could head shoot rabbits at 150 yards with my 22lr.would not have needed to get my hmr:o

Cass

6.5 tikka wrote: »

........... and im far from a scanger , ............

Never said you were.

Can i ask. Have you friends or family in the county you wish to shoot. Not saying it won't happen, but you are really pushing the boat out by going to a county where you don't know anyone, the land, the people, etc. and asking for permissions.

Expect a lot of - no.

6.5 tikka

TriggerPL wrote: »

Did you try asking on the land your friend was hunting , explain that he use to being you with him and now he is gone , you would like to take up the role .

yeah i would love to but im not sure where it is somewhere in tip, as far as i can remember,ah it was a good few years ago , he`d pick me up and id be asleep before we left dublin lol and wake up on arrival , and i wasnt going out all the time with him just the odd time ,

6.5 tikka

sniperman wrote: »

hi there,wish i could head shoot rabbits at 150 yards with my 22lr.would not have needed to get my hmr:o

my friend as 1.7 hmr great gun , only thing i dont like is the bang from it sends every rabbit running for the hills, good fox gun

6.5 tikka

Cass wrote: »

Never said you were.

Can i ask. Have you friends or family in the county you wish to shoot. Not saying it won't happen, but you are really pushing the boat out by going to a county where you don't know anyone, the land, the people, etc. and asking for permissions.

Expect a lot of - no.

lol i know you wernt calling me a scanger lol,

your right i am pushing the boat out, i went out wit the shotgun this morning
dropped into all the farmers i shoot for and ask them if i did some character references out could i put there names and numbers on them and they all agreed , so at least i can give the landowners some back round on me and contacts to check me out , might help might not and no havent any family or friends where im heading , have in kildare but theres no deer down there as far as i know ?

alalkovitch

Hi there, have you got your HCAP done, if not my advice go and do it and then join a syndicate...it's a cheap and legal way to get into the sport and you'll be involved with legal, like minded hunters who might be able to get you another bit of shooting along the way...

6.5 tikka

alalkovitch wrote: »

Hi there, have you got your HCAP done, if not my advice go and do it and then join a syndicate...it's a cheap and legal way to get into the sport and you'll be involved with legal, like minded hunters who might be able to get you another bit of shooting along the way...

i was told you only need the hcap for public land ?
how much would it cost ?
what involed in it ?

see cash isnt flowing like it did, im paying around 1200/1300
for the gun and if i have to pay for land rights aswell

alalkovitch

HCAP is necessary for Coillte leases but will eventually be a necessity you'll find for the issue of a hunting license so best get it over with...budget €300 to cover written exam and travelling expenses to shoot the practical test...deer hunting isn't a cheap sport to get into in any case because even if you get a bit of hunting on farm land your only likely to get hunting for a max of 30 mins at dawn or dusk as deer don't tend to stay out in the fields unless its dark or they are in an area of little stress: ie: no hunting going on...if you get onto a good lease you will have probably 3 good hours in the morning and evening and that's real stalking...hunting on fields isn't much sport in my opinion, hunting the forests and hills is fantastic but you'll need good binoculars for open stalking and they are not cheap either...like I say get the HCAP done and you'll probably find a syndicate to let you in for small money....I have a lot of leases and you can pay as little as €400 for a season on a few woods...( I don't have any spaces ) but you can see what I mean...

6.5 tikka

all the stuff i was hoping wasnt ininvoled in it lol .
defo going to look into it , willing to do anything that makes
getting into the sport easier

alalkovitch

Last bit of advice is join the Wild Deer Association or Irish Deer Society as they run HCAP courses and will keep you up dated on all things deer related.WDA recently ran a very interesting training day on tracking dogs for wounded deer in Cahir, Co Tipperary and they also ran training on carcass handling etc...good place to get advice, when you have your HCAP anyone would bring you for a days stalking to show you the ropes as they could get a day ticket for you and you'd be covered insurance wise on a Coillte lease...best of luck anyway, hope it works out

6.5 tikka

alalkovitch wrote: »

Last bit of advice is join the Wild Deer Association or Irish Deer Society as they run HCAP courses and will keep you up dated on all things deer related.WDA recently ran a very interesting training day on tracking dogs for wounded deer in Cahir, Co Tipperary and they also ran training on carcass handling etc...good place to get advice, when you have your HCAP anyone would bring you for a days stalking to show you the ropes as they could get a day ticket for you and you'd be covered insurance wise on a Coillte lease...best of luck anyway, hope it works out

thanks very much for all the advice , uve been more than helpfull , sure ill keep u posted on how i get on wit things , going to spend the hole of next week looking for permission , and look into doing the hcap and stuff cheers man

meathstevie

alalkovitch wrote: »

HCAP is necessary for Coillte leases but will eventually be a necessity you'll find for the issue of a hunting license so best get it over with...budget €300 to cover written exam and travelling expenses to shoot the practical test...deer hunting isn't a cheap sport to get into in any case because even if you get a bit of hunting on farm land your only likely to get hunting for a max of 30 mins at dawn or dusk as deer don't tend to stay out in the fields unless its dark or they are in an area of little stress: ie: no hunting going on...if you get onto a good lease you will have probably 3 good hours in the morning and evening and that's real stalking...hunting on fields isn't much sport in my opinion, hunting the forests and hills is fantastic but you'll need good binoculars for open stalking and they are not cheap either...like I say get the HCAP done and you'll probably find a syndicate to let you in for small money....I have a lot of leases and you can pay as little as €400 for a season on a few woods...( I don't have any spaces ) but you can see what I mean...

I beg to differ on deer stalking being expensive unless you're willing to pay Coilte a small fortune to do their pest control for them that is. If you can get yourself sorted with private land permissions you should be able to get yourself sorted for a decent rifle, scope, reasonable binos and a workable knife for about €1500 if you don't mind buying secondhand. You do not need to do any courses or exams to hunt private land but it will do you no harm to have some decent knowledge if the local ranger wants to have a chat before issuing a licence. Some folks would love to tell you that the HCAP will become mandatory etc etc but until the day that NPWS implements that sort of requirements I will not bother with it.

If you get yourself sorted keep one thing in mind: Shooting a deer is easy, a good bit of work starts after. Gutting, skinning, butchering (at least do the rough butchering yourself, it's a great learning experience).



If you're an NARGC member you don't need any additional liabibility insurance either.

alalkovitch

I'm afraid I don't agree, when there is money involved Ill guarantee you the Govt will bring in HCAP or some equivalent as mandatory and they want every one of our pennies that they can get their greedy hands on...secondly good free shooting is very rare and I haven't found any in many years and Im hunting nearly 50 years...I agree that giving Coillte money is unsavoury but you pay the money and you get the hunting...I have many good leases on syndicates with like minded people and we don't over hunt them and it works out fairly cheap for a season...go hunting out foreign and see what you can shoot for a grand...not a lot...biggest issue in this country is people who won't pay to hunt but hunt on others people's leases...POACHERS...scourge of the earth

6.5 tikka

meathstevie wrote: »

I beg to differ on deer stalking being expensive unless you're willing to pay Coilte a small fortune to do their pest control for them that is. If you can get yourself sorted with private land permissions you should be able to get yourself sorted for a decent rifle, scope, reasonable binos and a workable knife for about €1500 if you don't mind buying secondhand. You do not need to do any courses or exams to hunt private land but it will do you no harm to have some decent knowledge if the local ranger wants to have a chat before issuing a licence. Some folks would love to tell you that the HCAP will become mandatory etc etc but until the day that NPWS implements that sort of requirements I will not bother with it.

If you get yourself sorted keep one thing in mind: Shooting a deer is easy, a good bit of work starts after. Gutting, skinning, butchering (at least do the rough butchering yourself, it's a great learning experience).



If you're an NARGC member you don't need any additional liabibility insurance either.

i know how to gut skin butcher ive chopped up lots of them and know how
to get the best cuts from the deer, and i also understand the hard work involed in getting them off the hill /forest, the only problem i have is permission , like the problem i have wit the hcap will i be paying money for something i already now but will look into it , i have insurance wit countryside think that covers me ?,

meathstevie

alalkovitch wrote: »

I'm afraid I don't agree, when there is money involved Ill guarantee you the Govt will bring in HCAP or some equivalent as mandatory and they want every one of our pennies that they can get their greedy hands on...secondly good free shooting is very rare and I haven't found any in many years and Im hunting nearly 50 years...I agree that giving Coillte money is unsavoury but you pay the money and you get the hunting...I have many good leases on syndicates with like minded people and we don't over hunt them and it works out fairly cheap for a season...go hunting out foreign and see what you can shoot for a grand...not a lot...biggest issue in this country is people who won't pay to hunt but hunt on others people's leases...POACHERS...scourge of the earth

I'm with you on poachers my good man and I can quite categorically say that I have never shot any game where I shouldn't have been. If you trawl through my posts you will notice that I've also been consistently arguing in favour of hunting licence tests and not only for deer but contrary to the HCAP not by an interest group but by the State through the NPWS. I agree with you that a grand wouldn't make a big dent if you start looking into hunting tourism but I can tell you from personal experience that local hunting in Western Europe isn't any dearer than it is in Ireland.

alalkovitch

I agree with you on most of that, however I feel that if they bring in a mandatory test the cost will be high and the free hunting license we have will disappear overnight...I hunt in Slovakia and Hungary a couple of times a year and a decent stag will run you 1-5k and pig hunting can run anywhere from €150-500 a day depending on drives...I hunt for free with friends and I realise Im very lucky to have it but I hunt for 6 months in Ireland for €1500.00 and that gives me 7 woods, a lot of hunting for small money, I can go out when I want and return the same way ...I feel the HCAP is best to get out of the way...either way

meathstevie

6.5 tikka wrote: »

i know how to gut skin butcher ive chopped up lots of them and know how
to get the best cuts from the deer, and i also understand the hard work involed in getting them off the hill /forest, the only problem i have is permission , like the problem i have wit the hcap will i be paying money for something i already now but will look into it , i have insurance wit countryside think that covers me ?,

Countryside Alliance cover is adequate for deer stalking, use it as a selling point knocking on doors as well.

One shot on kill

Does any of the insurances cover you to bring someone with you on an occasion or just for a day.

6.5 tikka

would even think about shooting with out insurance ,

6.5 tikka

wouldnt even

meathstevie

alalkovitch wrote: »

I agree with you on most of that, however I feel that if they bring in a mandatory test the cost will be high and the free hunting license we have will disappear overnight...I hunt in Slovakia and Hungary a couple of times a year and a decent stag will run you 1-5k and pig hunting can run anywhere from €150-500 a day depending on drives...I hunt for free with friends and I realise Im very lucky to have it but I hunt for 6 months in Ireland for €1500.00 and that gives me 7 woods, a lot of hunting for small money, I can go out when I want and return the same way ...I feel the HCAP is best to get out of the way...either way

I'm most familiar with the set up in Belgium where the regional goverments are responsible for licencing. It's a once of exam covering legislation, firearms, species, habitats etc etc and upon passing you get an annualy renawble hunting licence that covers you for all game big and small on your permissions and it doubles up as a firearms licence that allows you to use and have hunting firearms, chopping and changing only takes a walk into the local police station with serial numbers so they can register the gun against your name. Unless I'm mistaken the annual licence fee is around €70, so for a hunter with a .22lr, a 12g and a fullbore rifle the licencing would be cheaper than in Ireland.

Mauser 308

6.5 tikka wrote: »

lads im looking for any info at all on starting deer stalking
been shooting guns since the age 11, 12, im 33 know and have a few guns at the min,
but feel the need for something bigger ,

im finding it hard to get permission , thats the biggest problem i have,
i have a gun picked out an all , i can get refs from farmer i shoot for at the min,
im very safe when it comes to shoot in my mind you can never be to safe,

im thinking about heading up to donegal and knocking on doors for as long as it takes looking for permission , is that a good idea ? dont want to piss anyone off at the same time,

could any one point me the right way to go about things , even what parts of donegal to head to ? or is there any clubs looking for new members ?

thanks guys hope to here back from yas , only new the this site

Where are you based ?

6.5 tikka

Mauser 308 wrote: »

Where are you based ?

im based in dublin
but willing to travel any where in the country