Newbie on hunting scene

GrahamP6

Hi lads . I'm looking to get into the hunting scene here in Ireland and was just looking for some tips/advice.

I'm 23 and living in Dublin and have only been hunting a handful of times before (pheasant hunting with my aunts husband a good few years back).

I'd mainly want to hunt vermin and game birds, wouldn't really be into harrier hunts or anything like that.

So I suppose my main questions would be:

Will I find it difficult to obtain an gun licence in Dublin?

Is there any clubs/groups based here that anyone could recommend?

What kind of guns would you recommend for the type of hunting I'll be looking to do?

Any feedback at all would be greatly appreciated. Cheers :cool:

Cass

GrahamP6 wrote: »

Will I find it difficult to obtain an gun licence in Dublin?

All gun licenses are issued on "Good Reason". Meaning once the reason is good enough, and you fulfill other criteria (age, background check, security, etc) your location will not be an issue.

Is there any clubs/groups based here that anyone could recommend?

Best advice is to check the NARGC website, and try to meet some locals that also shoot, and learn what clubs they shoot in. This will not only give you names but availability of membership to these clubs.

What kind of guns would you recommend for the type of hunting I'll be looking to do?

A shotgun. Either Over/Under (O/U) or a semi auto depending on your preferences. All game birds (duck, pheasant, etc) must be shot with a shotgun as rifles are not allowed on them. However a shotgun is a great firearm. Effective, cheap enough to buy, no real "intricacies" in it's use, and can be used on most all game and vermin you wish to shoot.

Any feedback at all would be greatly appreciated. Cheers :cool:

Gun clubs can be hard to get into. You may need to try more than one. If that fails there is also the option to seek out landowners yourself and gain permission from them to shoot on their lands. This acts as your good reason (same as being a member of a gun club). Speak with your Uncle. As a shooter he can direct you and guide you in these matters. He can also be used a tool to gain experience and competence in shooting well and safely.

GrahamP6

Cheers mate, thanks for the advice.

Brazzill

welcome and best of luck with everything

valerossi

Cass hit the nail on the head a shotgun is the only thing you need starting off, if you can call a fox in close enough or get close enough to a rabbit to use a shotgun you'll have some sport with a rifle down the road.

djflawless

Welcome to a way of life that will last till the day you die!

+1 on Cass
Is start with a gun club membership and a good steady shotgun.my choice would be a lanber o/u

75% of lads in a gun club would only love to bring along someone new to help get them on their way, so your local g.c chairman can help you out there

PL05

gun club membership fees can be expensive,so if thats a problem for you just go out and knock on farmers doors and ask for permission to shoot. chances are that you,ll be knocking on quite a few doors before you,ll get the go ahead but stick it out, you wont know untill you try. get yourself some insurance aswell from the countryside alliance as most farmers like to see that you have insurance. also a shot gun is good advise for you to start out, as a lot of farmers are,nt too keen on rifles been used on their land, unless they know and trust you. i,d say 50-60 acres should be enough for a shot gun license. Best of luck and remember, if you do get permission be safe and always respect the farmers land and stock, eg: if you have to open gates always close them behind you and be careful not to shoot in direction of livestock.