Muntjac size, are they getting bigger?

[Beagle boy]

Good evening
Is it just me, or are muntjac getting bigger?
It may possibly be the land I have access to. I shot 2 earlier in the week. The buck was 21kg and the doe was 19kg.
When I first started shooting these bits of permission ( 15 years ago ) most were around the 15-18kg range.
Maybe just because the forestry is now starting to mature, and theirs is more food available with the cherry trees and crab apples. Or they are hitting the feeders for the shoot more in winter.
I’m not sure if anyone else is experiencing the same thing.

Cheers Rob

 

[Mungo]

Good evening
Is it just me, or are muntjac getting bigger?
It may possibly be the land I have access to. I shot 2 earlier in the week. The buck was 21kg and the doe was 19kg.
When I first started shooting these bits of permission ( 15 years ago ) most were around the 15-18kg range.
Maybe just because the forestry is now starting to mature, and theirs is more food available with the cherry trees and crab apples. Or they are hitting the feeders for the shoot more in winter.
I’m not sure if anyone else is experiencing the same thing.

Cheers Rob

Is that larder weight (guts out, head and legs off) or field weight?

 

[Beagle boy]

Guts out, head off. But jacket and legs still on.

Cheers Rob

 

[Tim.243]

Is that larder weight (guts out, head and legs off) or field weight?

When they get to Scotland you will find out

 

[waggy 1]

Guts out, head off. But jacket and legs still on.

Cheers Rob

You sure they were Muntjac that’s over 46lb ! We have good roe Bucks weights here and they rarely go over that weight

 

[ColinBr]

Not a chance they are that weight in kgs.
Lbs maybe

 

[Mungo]

Guts out, head off. But jacket and legs still on.

Cheers Rob

Are you sure?

That’s big for larder weight roe deer.

We get sika hinds that size…

 

[ColinBr]

Either you have digital scales set to lbs and think it's kgs or your normal scales are massively out of spec

 

[Beagle boy]

Let me check my scales in the morning I never thought to check them.
I’ll pop a weight on and double check them. I’m sure I zero’d them before hand. Bare with me for abit I’ll go and look

 

[ColinBr]

Let me check my scales in the morning I never thought to check them.
I’ll pop a weight on and double check them. I’m sure I zero’d them before hand. Bare with me for abit I’ll go and look

Something is definitely wrong mate.

 

[Tim.243]

Guts out, head off. But jacket and legs still on.

Cheers Rob

I shoot a fair few and shot a very good weight buck this evening head off guts out front legs off
Hot weight 11.70 kg/25lb he is a lump, your one is close to 10kg more so %85 heaver

 

[Beagle boy]

Are you sure?

That’s big for larder weight roe deer.

We get sika hinds that size…

Just been out and I hadn’t zero’d the scales properly
just under 13kg on the buck and 10kg on the doe.

 

[Beagle boy]

Either you have digital scales set to lbs and think it's kgs or your normal scales are massively out of spec

Yeah sorry, I couldn’t have zero’d them

 

[ColinBr]

Just been out and I hadn’t zero’d the scales properly
just under 16kg on the buck and 13kg on the doe.

I think your scales are FUBAR'd

 

[ColinBr]

Let me put it this way. I have rarely shot a Roe deer over 16kgs.

 

[Beagle boy]

I think your scales are FUBAR'd

Just had to edit it again, I can’t weigh correctly and I can’t type correctly either.

 

[Tim.243]

Yeah sorry, I couldn’t have zero’d them

With respect your scales are pants lol
I have old style market weights and they are bob on with my digital scales.
Before my d/scales these are quite close with market weights

 

[Beagle boy]

With respect your scales are pants lol
I have old style market weights and they are bob on with my digital scales.
Before my d/scales these are quite close with market weights

Yeah I think I’ll get one, I should have thought before posting really and double checked.
They still felt like heavy beasts to drag back to the car

 

[ColinBr]

Yeah I think I’ll get one, I should have thought before posting really and double checked.
They still felt like heavy beasts to drag back to the car

They are all heavy dead weight.

I was surprised how heavy they were dragging a half decent MJ buck up a clay field.

Blowing out my own trumpet I was

 

[Beagle boy]

They are all heavy dead weight.

I was surprised how heavy they were dragging a half decent MJ buck up a clay field.

Blowing out my own trumpet I was

I might start shooting them only in the places I can drive to lol
I can’t imagine what it’s like dragging a red back.
I think I need to work on remembering to zero my scales before I worry about dragging any more muntjacs back