Managing muntjac

[EssexBigMac]

Shot an old beast the other morning with Aladdin’s slippers, torn up ears and no tusks, which provoked this conversation with a stalking buddy.
Now I appreciate there are the shoot on site (invasive species) stalkers.
I am more curious to hear from the deer managers who are managing their land throughout the year. When do you hit the cull bucks, do you target does over bucks, do you leave the big bucks for winter months? If you hit only bucks will the does leave to look for a companion else where?
When do you start seeing a difference to the quality of your muntjacs?

 

[User00036]

It doesn't matter how many you shoot, they keep coming.

 

[Overlay]

Keep an eye open with the Does for dependants otherwise crack on, you won’t run dry, whatever you remove will be replaced quick enough, I always look at Munties like a bowl of marbles grab a few out the middle and before you know it the others roll in to fill the gaps

 

[NoIDeer]

I shoot two pieces of land one big one small. The big one quite a few stalkers shoot muntjac on sight, the small one I shoot on sight. Both maintain healthy populations.
The small bit I visit once a month and if I see or the land owner mentions his trees are being damaged I increase my visits, simple.

 

[Merlyn]

I don't think that I have ever read anything about someone managing Muntjac. All the comments above seem to fit the bill. I certainly try to do the job humanely regarding the does and dependants but other than that it is game on all year. More difficult in the summer months because of the ground cover but, as mentioned above, new ones always move in to take over the empty spaces.

 

[Hanechdene]

For the last 20 or years, I have shot the Muntjac on sight regardless of sex or age.

In the last 3 or 4 years the Bucks culled have generally been much bigger In both body confirmation and antlers.

Personally I would rather shoot a doe over a Buck, I want the numbers down and shooting just Bucks does absolutely nothing to reduce the population.

 

[paulbshooting]

As above, difficult to be selective and recognise individual animals. Older bucks tend to hold the better areas so always keen to take the younger bucks when I see one. With does, anything without a dependent, ideally being followed by a buck. Given their breeding rate, shoot on sight unless it's a big buck.

 

[TringSaint]

Shot an old beast the other morning with Aladdin’s slippers, torn up ears and no tusks, which provoked this conversation with a stalking buddy.
Now I appreciate there are the shoot on site (invasive species) stalkers.
I am more curious to hear from the deer managers who are managing their land throughout the year. When do you hit the cull bucks, do you target does over bucks, do you leave the big bucks for winter months? If you hit only bucks will the does leave to look for a companion else where?
When do you start seeing a difference to the quality of your muntjacs?

I target whatever shows up - they are much more variable on my permissions than cwd.
I also only cull to a point, so when the count reaches the right level then i stop as it’s not about eradication for me, it’s about keeping a balance.

 

[AGR]

I used to pretty much shoot on sight, but now I'm in Devon, I'd just like a sight!

 

[308tikka]

I always shoot the doe first if theres a pair kicking about. Buck often hangs around hoping he hasnt wasted all that effort

 

[StephenToast]

Managing muntjac!

I actually manage my grey squirrels. I only shoot bucks with small bollocks and leave the ones that look like they are nursing a couple of walnuts as that's the easiest way to tell they are mature, territory holding bucks.

I don't shoot female grey squirrels unless they are obviously old and going back. I also bait my traps exclusively with cod liver oil tablets and werthers originals to target the older animals.

I always make sure I leave enough grey squirrels so that there is always a **** ton of crop damage and my woodlands and hedgerows are in crappy condition perpetually, I also try to make sure that I have enough so that it totally ****s my neighbours land as well.

 

[Shootgun]

Can't manage muntjac imo, i have a permission infested with the crittetrs, and after shooting 50+ , yesterday morning the place was littered with does and dependants the size of a rabbit...

The only achievement is somehow they stopped eating the landowner's flowers from the pots, so at least he is happy.

 

[Dickie]

Managing muntjac!

I actually manage my grey squirrels. I only shoot bucks with small bollocks and leave the ones that look like they are nursing a couple of walnuts as that's the easiest way to tell they are mature, territory holding bucks.

I don't shoot female grey squirrels unless they are obviously old and going back. I also bait my traps exclusively with cod liver oil tablets and werthers originals to target the older animals.

I always make sure I leave enough grey squirrels so that there is always a **** ton of crop damage and my woodlands and hedgerows are in crappy condition perpetually, I also try to make sure that I have enough so that it totally ****s my neighbours land as well.

Luckily you only have to look after the grey squirrels and don't have Muntjac to distract you from the task.

 

[T.eddie]

I would say that firstly it would depend on the landowners view/objective for the muntjac, i.e. do they see them as vermin, do they perceive that they are overrun with them or do they like to see some and either want to remain consistent year on year for deer density or do they want to see a reduction but not eradication. If it is the latter the next step would be to get some intel on numbers / sex. What ive found with the muntjac on one farm is that they only ever seem to appear at silly hours i.e. well after legal shooting has stopped. If they are like that the you'd need to take into account what other species are on the ground and how they impact also, as it may be that you have to take more of those if you can't get the muntjac to prevent / reduce damage.
If you want to lower numbers then you should try and target does just as much if not more so than bucks, however its not always the case that you will see the does as readily as the bucks so you end up having to take them as you see them.

Managing them I would say is probably not the right word and controlling may be more appropriate given the vast numbers, reproductive rates and happiness to be out in the dead of night.

 

[Tim.243]

I would say that firstly it would depend on the landowners view/objective for the muntjac, i.e. do they see them as vermin, do they perceive that they are overrun with them or do they like to see some and either want to remain consistent year on year for deer density or do they want to see a reduction but not eradication. If it is the latter the next step would be to get some intel on numbers / sex. What ive found with the muntjac on one farm is that they only ever seem to appear at silly hours i.e. well after legal shooting has stopped. If they are like that the you'd need to take into account what other species are on the ground and how they impact also, as it may be that you have to take more of those if you can't get the muntjac to prevent / reduce damage.
If you want to lower numbers then you should try and target does just as much if not more so than bucks, however its not always the case that you will see the does as readily as the bucks so you end up having to take them as you see them.

Managing them I would say is probably not the right word and controlling may be more appropriate given the vast numbers, reproductive rates and happiness to be out in the dead of night.

The does range is far far smaller than the bucks so be off where her boundary is then you won't get her.
If I get a hint of a muntjac in the thermal I am off and knock the yards down so by the time it wanders out the range is much better. This view/objective is out the window as by the time they have realised they are seeing them there is a good number they are not. I know you don't go foxing but intel from time on the ground is miles better than a few pictures off a trail cam.
I saw 3 last night on dark 2 crossing on a sky line and the third in the corner of the wood so I can get in a safe shot area and with a bit of luck get 1 then move on and get a second. All 3 in legal light just will need a digital scope on the .243

They cant make an impact if you shoot them!

 

[T.eddie]

The does range is far far smaller than the bucks so be off where her boundary is then you won't get her.
If I get a hint of a muntjac in the thermal I am off and knock the yards down so by the time it wanders out the range is much better. This view/objective is out the window as by the time they have realised they are seeing them there is a good number they are not. I know you don't go foxing but intel from time on the ground is miles better than a few pictures off a trail cam.
I saw 3 last night on dark 2 crossing on a sky line and the third in the corner of the wood so I can get in a safe shot area and with a bit of luck get 1 then move on and get a second. All 3 in legal light just will need a digital scope on the .243

They cant make an impact if you shoot them!

Completely agree, before they showed up on the cam the Intel was from the farmer about where they see them and when

 

[Tim.243]

Completely agree, before they showed up on the cam the Intel was from the farmer about where they see them and when

So how many have you shot there to what has been seen or reported? As the farmer won't be out at night with a thermal counting deer. !

 

[T.eddie]

So how many have you shot there to what has been seen or reported? As the farmer won't be out at night with a thermal counting deer. !

No muntjac on that ground as they don't live on the farm but walk through, as stated the only time they've been seen has been outside of legal shooting light thus far

 

[StephenToast]

No muntjac on that ground as they don't live on the farm but walk through, as stated the only time they've been seen has been outside of legal shooting light thus far

Wait until March/April when food and cover is at it's lowest and the nights are drawing out. I wouldn't mind betting if you haven't caught up with a few before then, you'll find them then.

 

[T.eddie]

Wait until March/April when food and cover is at it's lowest and the nights are drawing out. I wouldn't mind betting if you haven't caught up with a few before then, you'll find them then.

Yeah fingers crossed, though roe are more prevalent on that farm so are the main target and im hoping the group of fallow come back march time as well as they did this year