Hi All,
Sorry I was delayed at work and have only got in. I really don't want to dwell on this subject, but I will say that there was more going on than had been posted on this site. Those who no me will tell you I will put up with lots of stick. Some things though are plain wrong.
As for deer stalking, I sat up the highseat across the woodland ride from 0700 to 1345 sunday. I really didn't feel that i wanted to be any where else. So thats what i did! I had both the 22 LR for the sqiurrels and the 243 for the muntjac. I squirrel popped across the ride and I dropped him on the spot. Lovely little piece that Anshultz. Not five mintes later I saw a shadowy movement and reached for the 243. A muntjac buck crossed the ride. Bang! The chap was still there! Bang and this time his back legs kicked out and he ran 150 metres before crashing to the ground.
He was a lovely old fellow, marvellous antlers (for a munty) an old almost bald face and head and great big black gapping holes where his tusk should have been. His face and ears showed a history of battles and his skin showed signs of lice. The first time I had seen this on a muntjac. What a wonderful old chap he was! No great weight to him 27.5 LBs and no fat reserves. An old gentleman that had seen better days. I'm glad I culled him out, I believe he was the old boy I had mentioned before. He was out of his normal area and had lost weight. Ousted by a younger buck I'd imagine. I really enjoyed the day and my final meeting with the old boy.
Ho by the way the first shot didn't miss, it hit slightly left of the heart and the second took the top off the old ticker. Strong little beast.
Sorry I was delayed at work and have only got in. I really don't want to dwell on this subject, but I will say that there was more going on than had been posted on this site. Those who no me will tell you I will put up with lots of stick. Some things though are plain wrong.
As for deer stalking, I sat up the highseat across the woodland ride from 0700 to 1345 sunday. I really didn't feel that i wanted to be any where else. So thats what i did! I had both the 22 LR for the sqiurrels and the 243 for the muntjac. I squirrel popped across the ride and I dropped him on the spot. Lovely little piece that Anshultz. Not five mintes later I saw a shadowy movement and reached for the 243. A muntjac buck crossed the ride. Bang! The chap was still there! Bang and this time his back legs kicked out and he ran 150 metres before crashing to the ground.
He was a lovely old fellow, marvellous antlers (for a munty) an old almost bald face and head and great big black gapping holes where his tusk should have been. His face and ears showed a history of battles and his skin showed signs of lice. The first time I had seen this on a muntjac. What a wonderful old chap he was! No great weight to him 27.5 LBs and no fat reserves. An old gentleman that had seen better days. I'm glad I culled him out, I believe he was the old boy I had mentioned before. He was out of his normal area and had lost weight. Ousted by a younger buck I'd imagine. I really enjoyed the day and my final meeting with the old boy.
Ho by the way the first shot didn't miss, it hit slightly left of the heart and the second took the top off the old ticker. Strong little beast.
D
DaveG
Guest
I must have shot 200+ muntjac over the last 25 years with a .243 and 10+ since the law changed with the .223. I've only ever had one that required a second shot, that was 10 years ago and it was blowing a 80mph gale at the time. which drifted the bullet more than I'd allowed for, and none of them have ever made more than 50-70m let alone 150m.
Are you sure you used the 243 and not that .22rf?
Are you sure you used the 243 and not that .22rf?
Muntiacus
Well-Known Member
In twenty years I have never come across a munti with any kind of parasite, admitedly on my patch I only rarley find a tick on any of the fallow so it seems to be a clean area from a parasite point, I'm on the Herts/Essex boarder. Do any of you have parasites on Munties? if so what do you think contributes? area/vegitation/types or quantity of other deer?
The first bullet went straight through the deer without expanding. I didn't wait to see if it fell over eventually, the second shot was instantainous. As for the lice, its a first for me to. The wood next door is crawling with muntjac but the land owner is looking for control methods other than culling. All I can do is shoot whatever leaps the ditch into my patch. I have made a full report about the poor health of the deer and the damage to the coppice and wild flowers but the land owner will not be swayed. No keds or ticks I'm glad to say, just under weight deer and lice (on this occasion).
Beowulf said:
Low body weights and a high lice burden = serious overpopulation in my book. If that's the case there is no practical alternative to serious culling.
I went through this scenario a year or so ago, and it was only once I'd explained the effects of too many muntjac on the environment that the would the landowner accept the need to shoot the dear wee beasties.
D
DaveG
Guest
Muntiacus said:
Sheep
D
DaveG
Guest
Beowulf said:
Uncooperative neighbouring landowners, high populations and low body weight are easy problems to solve by one simple method. Feed your side like no tomorrow with beans spread by a quad bike and spinner. start right on the boundary and feed up every fence and hegdeline. With a feed sack of bean at the end as far away from the neighbours land as possible. You then sit back and drop the hammer on each and every muntjac regardless of age , sex, or stage of reproductive cycle. you see. As long as you keep seeing them you keep the feeding going. It works every time. Don't try and **** about claiming and pretending that you're managing the deer, because you're not! You're culling them! There's a world of difference.
IMO I don't believe you can effectively manage muntjac populations due to their very nature. All you can do is shoot them when ever you can.
Daveg...I think you have probably hit the nail on the head....BUT....the way you put it comes over rather harsh to an outsider! And you never want to give outsiders amunition to "diss" stalking. The polite way of saying what you just said could run something like... Feed the little bliters, as to get them into an area where they can be obvserved, and culled humanely and safely, What ever the views.....good P R tries not to throw cruelty into the public's face, and orpahning young, might happen, but is best to be avoided in public.
Both the woodland I stalk and the main wood are SSSI's. I have produced a management plan and have observed the deer for nearly two and a half years. The main wood is owned by the Wildlife Trust and has a lot of visitors using it constantly. There is also a 'Nature Park' bordering it full of face painting eco friendly rangers who also don't like the deer culled. So I sit on my side of the fence and shoot the deer as they feed on the rides and coppiced areas. I have all but given up on trying to educate these people, so I do what I do and I'm thankful for what land I have.
D
DaveG
Guest
Duncs said:
Dunc
Whats harsh to an outsider? They either understand and appreciate the facts and realities of life or they dont. If they dont then they will "diss" stalking no matter what.
I have no reason or intention to go tippy toeing around in order not to upset the ignorant and uninformed sensibilities of some outsider.
Whats cruel about banging over muntjac does on sight. Its a well recorded fact the muntjac fawns can survive the loss of their dam from very young age. Those to young soon get picked off by foxes and badger anyway. Nothing goes to waste where mother nature is concerned.
Blimey 300WSM that poor chap was covered in the sods! Very little is written about the muntjac and even less known. So I am glad to hear from other members that can help us to understand these enigmatic stumpy pigs!
Personally I really enjoy the thrill of seeing these creatures, and although I feel that the Roebuck is the Princes of the woodland. These muntjac are the 'Portly Barons'!
Personally I really enjoy the thrill of seeing these creatures, and although I feel that the Roebuck is the Princes of the woodland. These muntjac are the 'Portly Barons'!
So you know Charles Smith-Jones, is it Major Charles Smith-Jones? I would be thrilled if you could pass on my thanks. His book came at a time when most considered muntjac as nothing more than vermin. His book will be among the greats!
I try very hard to get muntjac stalking and to promote these creatures. I feel they are considered rather unsporting. I however love to see them in the Bluebells or crunching on an acorn. They are sabordinate to no other deer. They are true survivors.
I try very hard to get muntjac stalking and to promote these creatures. I feel they are considered rather unsporting. I however love to see them in the Bluebells or crunching on an acorn. They are sabordinate to no other deer. They are true survivors.
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