If they opened up the seasons would you ………

[Leec6.5]

Because it’s the best choice under the circumstances

There isn’t one, except that the muntjac is recognised as being foreign and invasive which comes with attitudes more associated with vermin control.
Why stop with shooting? Get the long dogs and snares out too.
You want them gone? Drive them, trap them, snare them. You’ll do it.

but we are told there are too many deer!

Their handing out CL55’s like smarties, they need to be controlled, so how would you suggest we solve the problem?

 

[Mardler]

No season on muntjac so presumably/hopefully heavily pregnant muntjac are shot everyday, yet we have an increasing muntjac population/problem
Just look for any sensational media headlines - Muntjac in Marks and Spensers Norwich, Muntjac attacks dog walker Reffley Kings Lynn etc etc
They are everywhere - here anyway
So there has to be some change in specific areas to control the deer problem
Urban deer control is a minefield
I personally shoot as many as I can, when I can
Nothing better than a muntjac on the BBQ, but nothing worse than one in the garden eating the tulips, roses, or the Mrs hitting 2 so far this year on local roads leading to not inexpensive vehicle repairs
Now have Water Deer increasing in numbers over the past 10 yrs so they are the next issue - cull season needs looking at imho
Fully understand those who don't want to shoot heavily pregnant does / hinds , but should be understanding of those who need to due to local conditions
Was always told "Cull bucks for quality - Cull does for quantity"
So I voted "Yes"

 

[shakey jake]

I think the biggest issue is the land not shot, either through lack of interest rail way bank and road verges or out right not wanting shooting.
A change in the law regarding deer and damage to inline with rabbits where land owner is liable but with the ability to have control forced, would be a good step.

 

[Leec6.5]

I think the biggest issue is the land not shot, either through lack of interest rail way bank and road verges or out right not wanting shooting.
A change in the law regarding deer and damage to inline with rabbits where land owner is liable but with the ability to have control forced, would be a good step.

The problem with that idea is that herd species could be with on you bit today and 5 mile as the crow flies for breakfast!

 

[shakey jake]

The problem with that idea is that herd species could be with on you bit today and 5 mile as the crow flies for breakfast!

One of Your reasons for not shooting at night is with pressure they will move to where they are safe, if they arent safe any where it wont matter.
Also dont fallow tend to heft to certain areas? Not sure about red

 

[Dunwaters]

but we are told there are too many deer!

Their handing out CL55’s like smarties, they need to be controlled, so how would you suggest we solve the problem?

Step back and ask 2 questions.
(1).Why are there too many?
(2). Where are there too many.
I’m going to bet that, outside of the highlands, most of your deer are in areas with either a healthy population of game shoots, or in semi suburban settings where you can’t actually get at them.
Most shoots don’t want stalkers on the ground between September and the following February. That , plus the routine 3 times a week shoot schedule knocks a big hole in the time actually available for deer control, and that’s if you can get in at all and the deer aren’t being treated as a keepers perk or supplementary Summer income.
I’m going to bet that if you overlay your deer density map over your active game shooting map, you’ll have a pretty close correlation between the two and deer control is always on the hind tit with the game shooting taking primacy because it pays more.
The highlands and Scotland generally have a different set of problems, the attitude towards deer does seem to be changing rapidly there. Deer have morphed from valuable asset to destructive pest in less than 20 years.
Year round open season?
Be careful what you wish for.

 

[Chris Richardson]

but we are told there are too many deer!

Their handing out CL55’s like smarties, they need to be controlled, so how would you suggest we solve the problem?

More courses it’s worked so far

 

[Chris Richardson]

Step back and ask 2 questions.
(1).Why are there too many?
(2). Where are there too many.
I’m going to bet that, outside of the highlands, most of your deer are in areas with either a healthy population of game shoots, or in semi suburban settings where you can’t actually get at them.
Most shoots don’t want stalkers on the ground between September and the following February. That , plus the routine 3 times a week shoot schedule knocks a big hole in the time actually available for deer control, and that’s if you can get in at all and the deer aren’t being treated as a keepers perk or supplementary Summer income.
I’m going to bet that if you overlay your deer density map over your active game shooting map, you’ll have a pretty close correlation between the two and deer control is always on the hind tit with the game shooting taking primacy because it pays more.
The highlands and Scotland generally have a different set of problems, the attitude towards deer does seem to be changing rapidly there. Deer have morphed from valuable asset to destructive pest in less than 20 years.
Year round open season?
Be careful what you wish for.

Doesn’t hold water really I’ve got an estate with a very good game shoot keeper doesn’t care when I’m there doesn’t matter if it’s the day before a shoot , and as for semi urban for a good few years I shot a lot of fallow on a well known Lincolnshire golf course road and houses on one side holiday lets the other , still shot good numbers I’ve generally found keepers ok about getting deer numbers reduced

 

[Leec6.5]

Well finally hit 100 votes!

Well that was bloody hard work, out of a forum of 40k members, that’s 0.25% of members that have voted.

That’s very pitiful really.

 

[Scarpa]

They must all be out shooting pregnant muntjac

 

[Tim.243]

They must all be out shooting pregnant muntjac

Nope most are down the range with their slowmore dasher prc and all the other variants which come off the drawing board

 

[VSS]

Also dont fallow tend to heft to certain areas?

Yes they do.

 

[tackb]

i would shoot a doe/hind while it's giving birth and then use a claw hammer to kill the fawn/calf without losing a moments sleep

i don't get being a stalker and being squeamish about the killing part ?

no i don't carry a claw hammer with me stalking.....

 

[VSS]

i would shoot a doe/hind while it's giving birth and then use a claw hammer to kill the fawn/calf without losing a moments sleep

i don't get being a stalker and being squeamish about the killing part ?

no i don't carry a claw hammer with me stalking.....

A ball pein hammer is a better option than a claw hammer. Just FYI

 

[Rutland lad]

Very interesting thread.
I have a permission on land run by a wildlife trust. They don’t want muntjac as they disturb ground nesting birds.
Trouble is, the ground nesting birds and the muntjac both love the brambles and dense cover - so there’s not much trimming back to allow me a decent shot on the muntjac as the birds needs come first.

So, no matter how I try over the season, I can never shoot as many muntjac as I’d like. The shooting is all highseats which are sited so that no shots have any chance of going near a footpath, which is great, but the deer often cross behind you …..
This has nothing to do with my time spent on the ground as others have indicated is the problem. Weather and public access cab destroy a planned session so easily - there’s no predictable thing once the public are matching about with their load and often unleashed dogs.

The other thing is as mentioned already, pregnant females. They do get shot, and I do feel some regret about doing so, but they have to go. I hope I’ve not caused any young fawns to perish due to my actions, but you never know do you. You can only hope and try to minimise that risk however you can.

I do feel that we could do something simple to stop the numbers growing, and it’s been alluded to already.
Simply stop shooting males.
Concentrate on females. No females, no young.
I believe that if we did this (someone mentions 5 years) that we could seriously curtail the numbers. Even if we could arrest the numbers now by shooting females, then consider opening up the male shooting again in a few years, I think we could get on top of the situation.
But the lure of a medal buck still rules people doesn’t it. And there’s the issue.

 

[Leec6.5]

A ball pein hammer is a better option than a claw hammer. Just FYI

A knife is far better or another bullet!

 

[SikaSeeker]

A ball pein hammer is a better option than a claw hammer. Just FYI

Funny you say that, I know a guy who’d catch red hinds with deerhounds. He kept a ball pein hammer on his belt the administer last rights!

 

[hendrix's rifle]

I don’t disagree in the slightest, but the real crux of the matter and you see it everywhere, everyone wants to shoot the bucks not the does.

A 5 years ban on buck stalking certainly wouldn’t go a miss!

Never understood that, young hind or doe taste far better than a scabby old stag

 

[RescueMe0007]

Not legal as far as im aware.

Definitely not legal in this jurisdiction.

 

[shakey jake]

A ball pein hammer is a better option than a claw hammer. Just FYI

Glad you didnt say a knife!