If night shooting in England was legal
- Thread starter Nickb
- Start date
Only where necessary - I’m getting ****ed off with some muntjac that appear on the trail cam after legal sunset and then proceed to lunch on the owner’s vegetable plot!
Ten minutes ago and I know where she’s heading
Norfolk Deer Search
Well-Known Member
Night shooting is a tool!
I do it?
Sod that for a game of soldiers I don’t get enough money for my carcasses to go out at night.
Does it work?
Yes, it does but all it does is educate the deer!
All night shooting will do is increased the amount of carcasses going into the Game Dealer which in due course will reduce the price exactly the same way thermal scopes and digital scopes have done, I’ve known excellent dealer prices and I know the crap prices that are available today and they are half of what they were and I put that down to the use of thermal spotters and digital and thermal scopes.
Night shooting is always happened even under a lamp so really it’s nothing new
I would if legal but it would depend on the ground deer numbers etc
Norfolk Deer Search
Well-Known Member
Deer prices would have to be 3 times what they are now for me to loose my beauty sleep!
I know what you mean
to be honest there’s only a couple bits of my ground where I think it would be an advantage
Norfolk Deer Search
Well-Known Member
Really, you have to ask yourself the question, are deer the problem or are people the problem?
Really all that’s happened over the last 20+ years is the humans have expanded more people more houses being built on the deers territory that’s the problem.
Really all that’s happened over the last 20+ years is the humans have expanded more people more houses being built on the deers territory that’s the problem.
Exactly this the bits I had in mind are busy with foot traffic in the day
Norfolk Deer Search
Well-Known Member
Just over 10 years ago I had 8 hinds and a calf in my chiller and I got paid just shy of £3K all chest shot too.
£2.80/kg !!!!!
I remember it because the dealer collected in a transit connect van
We managed to jam them in, but the hundred pigeons he had had to go on the passenger seat
Back then you could shoot them in the daytime, now you have to shoot shadows because they’re heading off the field on the gnats cock of daylight, very clearly they don’t feel safe because as soon as the sun rises they’re heading to the thick cover
£2.80/kg !!!!!
I remember it because the dealer collected in a transit connect van
We managed to jam them in, but the hundred pigeons he had had to go on the passenger seat
Back then you could shoot them in the daytime, now you have to shoot shadows because they’re heading off the field on the gnats cock of daylight, very clearly they don’t feel safe because as soon as the sun rises they’re heading to the thick cover
sikamalc
Administrator
I've done it under a night licence. Its hard work, and silly hours.
Someone has already mentioned about deer being educated. With Fallow that's very true. Shoot at 9pm one night, next night they are gone and come out at 1am, and on and on.
You can end up chasing your tail around and around. And in all weathers to achieve what Natural England have asked to be culled. Middle of winter venison prices are lower, and by the time you finish preparing 10 to 20 deer after a 3 to 4 hour session, I defy anyone with a full time job, to then look forward to going to work. Its bad enough when your a full time stalker, and the returns for the amount of work is small.
To open up the whole of England to night licences would be a disaster in my opinion. And more to the point, not safe either. Night shooting is different to stalking in the daylight hours. You need to know every back stop, and limits to where you can shoot. Plus you would be surprised at how many members of the public wander around at night, even at 1am.
And its nothing like shooting Rabbits or Foxes at night either. Rabbits stay around their warrens, foxes are alone or in pairs, and you don't need to drag them back to a larder at 1am.
Someone has already mentioned about deer being educated. With Fallow that's very true. Shoot at 9pm one night, next night they are gone and come out at 1am, and on and on.
You can end up chasing your tail around and around. And in all weathers to achieve what Natural England have asked to be culled. Middle of winter venison prices are lower, and by the time you finish preparing 10 to 20 deer after a 3 to 4 hour session, I defy anyone with a full time job, to then look forward to going to work. Its bad enough when your a full time stalker, and the returns for the amount of work is small.
To open up the whole of England to night licences would be a disaster in my opinion. And more to the point, not safe either. Night shooting is different to stalking in the daylight hours. You need to know every back stop, and limits to where you can shoot. Plus you would be surprised at how many members of the public wander around at night, even at 1am.
And its nothing like shooting Rabbits or Foxes at night either. Rabbits stay around their warrens, foxes are alone or in pairs, and you don't need to drag them back to a larder at 1am.
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Be careful what you wish for.
It’s a necessary tool in some circumstances (sika in forestry or fallow in arable crops, for instance), but there are many better ways to spend an evening!
As mentioned above, I think it can be very counterproductive and lock you into a vicious circle.
Nickb
Well-Known Member
Its the same for trees it's only human beings that want straight trees! I obviously understand that commercial timber production is essential and over grazing has an impact but in general Brittish grown soft woods are not the greatest of quality for structural timber.
Sheamus
Well-Known Member
I see this all the time. Habitat destroyed where deer were once safe. Ever decreasing natural surroundings.
Increased volumes of deer on neibouring fields and woodland.
With regards of night shooting if it's needed just get it done and move on.
Blaser243
Well-Known Member
I shoot under licence. Not a lot, but some. I shoot far more at last light, around lunchtime in the darker months, and in the mornings.
Does it educate the deer? Yes, but often it just encourages them to move at other times - like during the middle of the day. NE agrees with that sentiment, for what its worth.
However, whatever tangible benefit there is from night shooting (i.e. carcasses in the larder) there is an intangible benefit in the landowner seeing you trying to do all you can to protect his woodland or crops. Like it or not, that counts for something.
Does it educate the deer? Yes, but often it just encourages them to move at other times - like during the middle of the day. NE agrees with that sentiment, for what its worth.
However, whatever tangible benefit there is from night shooting (i.e. carcasses in the larder) there is an intangible benefit in the landowner seeing you trying to do all you can to protect his woodland or crops. Like it or not, that counts for something.
David Barker
Well-Known Member
Not to sure if a lamp would help there.
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