Getting into stalking

aaakev

So iv sold my .223 and am starting to look at getting a stalking set up. where do i go from here with regards licencing? do i need to apply for the deer licence first or the rifle licence first?

also any suggestions or links to a nice gun and scope package or if anyone knows of anything in any dealers around the place please share! Budget approx 1k

BrownTrout

I think you have to have your deer licence first. Then I'd go about securing land with deer on it and reasonable numbers to cull and then you secure your gun license normally

Not a deer stalker myself but I think that's how it works.

aaakev

ah i already have the land so that part is sorted

Alucan

You will need to have your deer licence before you can apply for a gun licence.
The deer licence is free all you need is written permission from a landowner it has to be more than one hundred acres the letter must include the land owners address the towns land of the land you have permission and the folio number of the land also a phone number for the land owner (landline is better). There must be deer in the area

Cass

aaakev wrote: »

So iv sold my .223 and am starting to look at getting a stalking set up. where do i go from here with regards licencing? do i need to apply for the deer licence first or the rifle licence first?

You apply to the NPWS for your deer license, but on deer license application you must provide the details of the gun and bullet you are/intend to use.

I'd suggest going for the rifle first, apply for the deer license once you have a deposit paid, apply for the rifle license and request a letter from the NPWS saying that if successful (on the rifle application) you'll be granted the deer license. I say this because you will not receive the deer license until August and if claiming it's for deer stalking you have no license to supply with your FCA1.

also any suggestions or links to a nice gun and scope package or if anyone knows of anything in any dealers around the place please share! Budget approx 1k

I normally don't do this as most dealers will have something to suit and the thread may turn into a "Wanted" advert, but my mate recently brought his gun to Atlantic shop in carlow. He is trading his .308 for a .223. His gun is the Savage Model 10 FCP in .308. It has a Hawke Sidewinder 30, Wildcat mod, bipod, and hard carry case.

I was thinking of buying this myself after having one a couple of years ago. There is a newer version of the gun out so it's not too expensive, but i loved mine and only sold it to further finance my FTR shooting. It'll take any .308 and give one hole to clover leaf groups out to 300 yards with ease. The only reason for my delay is i have two .308's and would need to sell one to finance it. He wants a .223 asap, but my Remmy (SPS Tactical, 20" barrel, Warne rings, Hawke Sidewinder 30 - all new) may not sell within the time frame he wants. He then told me he sent to Carlow and was going to trade so i just dropped it.

Now i think he is only going to trade the .308 rifle against the .223 he wants but if he got a good offer on the whole package i've told him to take it and buy the .223 cash and put a new scope on it. It's the triangular barreled Remmy (VTR i think) so he is not interested in a mod hence the reason he is selling his widlcat with the .308.

It looks like this:




I told him €1,050 to €1,100 would be a good price for the entire kit. If interested go have a look in the Carlow shop, and then deal directly with my mate. Until his deal is done with Atlantic it's still his gun, and he is in a better position using cash than trading and you'll get it a full kit cheaper buying form him than the shop. I'm still thinking of selling my kit too, and buying this one, but i need to work out what he is doing as i won't buy from Atlantic direct.

If it's not your cup of tea then no hassle.

aaakev

Cheers cass I'll do that so as soon as I pick a rifle.

Cheers for the gun details, I'll give it some thought. Hadn't really considered a 308. Any idea on weight of that set up? I'm considering just going rifle, scope and sling and seeing how I get on without a mod and bipod this time.

Cass

aaakev wrote: »

Hadn't really considered a 308. Any idea on weight of that set up?

I like the .308 for pure versatility. As for that set up, IIRC (its the same set up as my old one) it'll be around the 12.5lb mark. Not a light set up, and with the McMillan stock on it being so light it can be a little muzzle heavy.

I really don't want to try and "sell" this to you. It's only in my head as he was up with me two days ago so it just came to me. It's a great and accurate rifle, but more of a sporting set up than pure stalker. With bipod and mod you could be looking at over 13.5 lb.

Just the price was good so i said i'd mention it.

I'm considering just going rifle, scope and sling and seeing how I get on without a mod and bipod this time.

That's what i done this year. I bought the Remmy SPS Tactical, stuck on the scope, but as it's an odd thread size i never went for the mod. I don't carry a bipod as most of my shots are rested. The rifle is compact, light to carry (even with the short, bull barrel), and suits my needs. Hence my hesitation about buying his rifle straight away.

Alucan

You can still apply for a deer licence for this season and you will have it back within a couple of weeks but you do need the details of the gun you are buying

aaakev

Alucan wrote: »

You can still apply for a deer licence for this season and you will have it back within a couple of weeks but you do need the details of the gun you are buying

Good stuff, think i found one so hopefully my sale goes through quickly and i can get sorted