Ireland or Scotland

[PostmanPat]

I would love to book a trip to somewhere a little wilder than farmers fields in the south of England. Has anyone had experience of both Ireland and Scottish highlands? If so any thoughts to consider on picking one over another would be appreciated. The aim is a trip of multiple days that is arduous terrain and ideally as costs effective as is reasonable (so probably hinds, although the feral sheep & ibex in Ireland are appealing).

 

[User00047]

I would love to book a trip to somewhere a little wilder than farmers fields in the south of England. Has anyone had experience of both Ireland and Scottish highlands? If so any thoughts to consider on picking one over another would be appreciated. The aim is a trip of multiple days that is arduous terrain and ideally as costs effective as is reasonable (so probably hinds, although the feral sheep & ibex in Ireland are appealing).

Ibex in Ireland ?
Is that really a thing now?

 

[Glendine]

I would love to book a trip to somewhere a little wilder than farmers fields in the south of England. Has anyone had experience of both Ireland and Scottish highlands? If so any thoughts to consider on picking one over another would be appreciated. The aim is a trip of multiple days that is arduous terrain and ideally as costs effective as is reasonable (so probably hinds, although the feral sheep & ibex in Ireland are appealing).

Consider Sika stalking in Wicklow with John Sika Fenton.

John Sika Fenton Hunting

John Sika Fenton Hunting. 2,405 likes. Sika Trophy Hunting Wicklow Mountains Ireland with John Sika Fenton. Telephone: 00353 87 9857747 Email: johnsikafentonhuntingtours@gmail.com

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Regards,
Glendine.

 

[Dunwaters]

although the feral sheep & ibex in Ireland are appealing).

We don’t have either animal here, what we do have are fools with fat wallets and those who will empty those wallets with the greatest of pleasure.
The ibex are feral goats, there are quite a few populations around and I’ve been asked to hammer them a couple of times. They’re about as difficult to approach as Betsy the cow, there’s nothing even vaguely sporting about it but expect to pay heavily for the privilege.
The feral sheep are an even bigger scam, they’re old rams at the end of their usefulness with the ear tags removed. The gentlemen who provide this outstanding sporting experience buy them for buttons at various marts and release them to order.
You can sometimes find them hanging around the car parks being fed digestive biscuits by hikers and bikers.
There’s at least one outfitter also offering what they call “ devil sheep “ , Jacobs rams to you and me.
The authorities are well aware of what is going on, and who is involved but are either unable or unwilling to shut it down.
There are a few videos out there, check out “ Best of the West Irish safari “, from memory it runs over 2 episodes and at least one of the sheep appears to have been shot beside the car park in Glenmalure.
The outfitters are not in the least bit shy, they’re quite happy to be identified.

Buying an old worn out ram or billy goat for £50 and selling it on for £1,000 is more temptation than some people can resist.

 

[PostmanPat]

We don’t have either animal here, what we do have are fools with fat wallets and those who will empty those wallets with the greatest of pleasure.
The ibex are feral goats, there are quite a few populations around and I’ve been asked to hammer them a couple of times. They’re about as difficult to approach as Betsy the cow, there’s nothing even vaguely sporting about it but expect to pay heavily for the privilege.
The feral sheep are an even bigger scam, they’re old rams at the end of their usefulness with the ear tags removed. The gentlemen who provide this outstanding sporting experience buy them for buttons at various marts and release them to order.
You can sometimes find them hanging around the car parks being fed digestive biscuits by hikers and bikers.
There’s at least one outfitter also offering what they call “ devil sheep “ , Jacobs rams to you and me.
The authorities are well aware of what is going on, and who is involved but are either unable or unwilling to shut it down.
There are a few videos out there, check out “ Best of the West Irish safari “, from memory it runs over 2 episodes and at least one of the sheep appears to have been shot beside the car park in Glenmalure.
The outfitters are not in the least bit shy, they’re quite happy to be identified.

Buying an old worn out ram or billy goat for £50 and selling it on for £1,000 is more temptation than some people can resist.

Thanks for this. Proving the worth of asking the forum.

 

[NickJ]

I've done both and could highly recommend both. Obviously supply and demand and travel costs affect costs so Scotland will be cheaper.

A few places in Scotland have wild goats as well as deer. For value/shorter distance than Highlands Colin Lockerbie has hill reds and goats near Dumfries. He's on Facebook as 'Solway Stalking & Hunting.'

Even closer is reds on the hills in the Lake District.

Hinds obviously cheaper than stags.

 

[Kalahari]

Is transporting a firearm to the Republic difficult? Might affect your decision.

David.

 

[Dunwaters]

Is transporting a firearm to the Republic difficult? Might affect your decision.

David.

Its not a big deal, but you would be well advised to start the process a few months before the trip.

 

[DavyG]

Its not a big deal, but you would be well advised to start the process a few months before the trip.

Hardly worth it for a “one off” trip. By the time you get a government issued deer hunter certificate and a temporary FAC from the local Guard…it’s a right PITA.
Scotland would be my choice.
DG

 

[Fair Hill]

We don’t have either animal here, what we do have are fools with fat wallets and those who will empty those wallets with the greatest of pleasure.
The ibex are feral goats, there are quite a few populations around and I’ve been asked to hammer them a couple of times. They’re about as difficult to approach as Betsy the cow, there’s nothing even vaguely sporting about it but expect to pay heavily for the privilege.
The feral sheep are an even bigger scam, they’re old rams at the end of their usefulness with the ear tags removed. The gentlemen who provide this outstanding sporting experience buy them for buttons at various marts and release them to order.
You can sometimes find them hanging around the car parks being fed digestive biscuits by hikers and bikers.
There’s at least one outfitter also offering what they call “ devil sheep “ , Jacobs rams to you and me.
The authorities are well aware of what is going on, and who is involved but are either unable or unwilling to shut it down.
There are a few videos out there, check out “ Best of the West Irish safari “, from memory it runs over 2 episodes and at least one of the sheep appears to have been shot beside the car park in Glenmalure.
The outfitters are not in the least bit shy, they’re quite happy to be identified.

Buying an old worn out ram or billy goat for £50 and selling it on for £1,000 is more temptation than some people can resist.

You're bang on the ball about the wild sheep scam artists, I know of one gullible person that paid over a grand to shoot an old ram that had been put in the field an hour beforehand. The Yank was made crawl for a couple of hundred yards to approach it as "they spook so easy they are very rare to even see one".

He paid a big tip to the guide too he was so happy to have shot the new world record, and he invited him to his home in America to see the head mounted on the wall next to a load of genuine rare exotic creatures he had shot around the world.

It's a funny story but in reality it's theft by deception and carries a prison sentence of up to 5 years.

 

[Dunwaters]

You're bang on the ball about the wild sheep scam artists, I know of one gullible person that paid over a grand to shoot an old ram that had been put in the field an hour beforehand. The Yank was made crawl for a couple of hundred yards to approach it as "they spook so easy they are very rare to even see one".

He paid a big tip to the guide too he was so happy to have shot the new world record, and he invited him to his home in America to see the head mounted on the wall next to a load of genuine rare exotic creatures he had shot around the world.

It's a funny story but in reality it's theft by deception and carries a prison sentence of up to 5 years.

Apparently not, following articles in the papers there were investigations by both NPWS and Dept Agriculture.
Their official position is that no laws are being broken.
Various packages are still being offered.

 

[gelert]

Scotland offers better scope logistically and financially imo. Having been over to Co Wicklow a few times, wonderful place and great stalking. It's just the ferry cost that pushes things high.
Colin Lockerbie could give you a hell of a week on boar, goats, hinds and does. Norman isn't who I went with but it gives you some idea of cost for a package. Our Packages

 

[NullMac]

Hard to beat a day at the stags with garrisons really. One of the iconic hunting experiences in the world IMO. If you shop around there are stags to be had at sensible prices.

If you are going to be at the Hinds make it very early in the season. Be careful with the pricing on this, some places are taking the **** now. Be clear on what you can reasonable expect to get. Its all very well being 'unlimited shooting' but if you are never going to be able to shoot more than one then they need to be clear on that.

 

[BenBhoy]

Apparently not, following articles in the papers there were investigations by both NPWS and Dept Agriculture.
Their official position is that no laws are being broken.
Various packages are still being offered.

You know what happens to a fool and his money.

 

[davelloyd91]

I would love to book a trip to somewhere a little wilder than farmers fields in the south of England. Has anyone had experience of both Ireland and Scottish highlands? If so any thoughts to consider on picking one over another would be appreciated. The aim is a trip of multiple days that is arduous terrain and ideally as costs effective as is reasonable (so probably hinds, although the feral sheep & ibex in Ireland are appealing).

Get onto Colin Lockerbie of solway stalking for a feral goat. Prices are very reasonable and some lovely steep country to stalk.

 

[DavyG]

Apparently not, following articles in the papers there were investigations by both NPWS and Dept Agriculture.
Their official position is that no laws are being broken.
Various packages are still being offered.

Irish Ibex, native only to Ireland. They would be, wouldn’t they?
Still a bloody goat.
DG

 

[Dunwaters]

You know what happens to a fool and his money.

if you find a pigeon you should pluck it yourself before someone else does.

 

[sako751sg]

Is transporting a firearm to the Republic difficult? Might affect your decision.

David.

Very easy.

 

[opticron1]

If I can, may I throw a bit of a random suggestion in to the mix.
The GWCT (Scotland) Auction has just started and they've got a few days here and there for Stags and Hinds up for auction, some over some....err...challenging ground as well. You may not like to bid, but it might give you a couple of ideas.
Me, I'm off to count how much loose change I've got down the back of the sofa before sticking a bid or two on!

 

[landkeeper]

Apparently not, following articles in the papers there were investigations by both NPWS and Dept Agriculture.
Their official position is that no laws are being broken.
Various packages are still being offered.

Unbelievable how gullible some folk are , I was half expecting to see pat short and Johnny Connor guiding him onto a Hereford bull !