I've a fair bit of land up around auchnacloy where i shoot here in n.ireland.
We have primarily Fallow running through it, randomly get the odd red comes onto it now and again but not too often.
I'm just sort of thinking about the later on years.
At the moment i know of at least 4-8 good great bucks roaming the lands i shoot (probably good 6-9yr old). They all have their we patches and im sure there are others fighting for the territory with them. We have only had the land 3 years so still running into new animals each year, most of the time we knew were about. just had yet to see them face on etc.
First season was spent finding where they primarily hang out, most common paths, where the bucks stands were etc. only shot around 4 deer that year.
2nd season (last season) farmers explained they wanted the number brought under control a bit, so myself and uncle manages around 30 in total, mainly all does and calves.
3rd season (this season) thinking about how to actually get a management plan in place, now we know rough numbers and where they generally tend to be.
ANYWAY
I'm wondering about the Prickets and other peoples approach to them. This time of year a fair few people go after the prickets, I myself have been aswell, but i'm just thinking now about the stock and the breeding. the reason being is i shot a good 3-4 year old there a few weeks back, and thinking back on it i probably should have let him get to full size. looked like he would have evened up nicely and have been a good contender in the coming years (granted no-one else got to him before then)
unfortunately my trigger finger thought quicker than my compassion. but, learnt for again.
I'm just thinking with these fine bucks roaming about (any ive seen have been brilliant looking creatures, one is definately a gold medal head and my uncle shot at least a bronze last year who was injured from what looked like a car hit), instead of knocking every pricket we see (which isn't very many) should we concentrate our efforts on the big guys who i suspect one will be starting to come back and let the young lads come up to see how they progress and actually manage the stock properly (these deer are 100% wild with no person ever managed them as such, more just cracking the odd one when they see it (much what we have been doing last year or so), along with the odd poacher nailing one or two)
This is all private land so the farmers just want to see their numbers dropping (which we have been doing with the does)
All in all I would guesstimate there is around 150-200 deer roaming around 500-700acres.
before anyone goes on the attack about not managing them etc. we have been doing exactly what the land owners have wanted us to do thus far. they are happy with the progress. i'm looking advice not grief. only been at it 2 years and i'm 29 so just want to put a plan in place to actually manage the stock properly while also getting a handle on the numbers too. This year will also probably be a heavy doe cull with their sheer numbers
We have primarily Fallow running through it, randomly get the odd red comes onto it now and again but not too often.
I'm just sort of thinking about the later on years.
At the moment i know of at least 4-8 good great bucks roaming the lands i shoot (probably good 6-9yr old). They all have their we patches and im sure there are others fighting for the territory with them. We have only had the land 3 years so still running into new animals each year, most of the time we knew were about. just had yet to see them face on etc.
First season was spent finding where they primarily hang out, most common paths, where the bucks stands were etc. only shot around 4 deer that year.
2nd season (last season) farmers explained they wanted the number brought under control a bit, so myself and uncle manages around 30 in total, mainly all does and calves.
3rd season (this season) thinking about how to actually get a management plan in place, now we know rough numbers and where they generally tend to be.
ANYWAY
I'm wondering about the Prickets and other peoples approach to them. This time of year a fair few people go after the prickets, I myself have been aswell, but i'm just thinking now about the stock and the breeding. the reason being is i shot a good 3-4 year old there a few weeks back, and thinking back on it i probably should have let him get to full size. looked like he would have evened up nicely and have been a good contender in the coming years (granted no-one else got to him before then)
unfortunately my trigger finger thought quicker than my compassion. but, learnt for again.
I'm just thinking with these fine bucks roaming about (any ive seen have been brilliant looking creatures, one is definately a gold medal head and my uncle shot at least a bronze last year who was injured from what looked like a car hit), instead of knocking every pricket we see (which isn't very many) should we concentrate our efforts on the big guys who i suspect one will be starting to come back and let the young lads come up to see how they progress and actually manage the stock properly (these deer are 100% wild with no person ever managed them as such, more just cracking the odd one when they see it (much what we have been doing last year or so), along with the odd poacher nailing one or two)
This is all private land so the farmers just want to see their numbers dropping (which we have been doing with the does)
All in all I would guesstimate there is around 150-200 deer roaming around 500-700acres.
before anyone goes on the attack about not managing them etc. we have been doing exactly what the land owners have wanted us to do thus far. they are happy with the progress. i'm looking advice not grief. only been at it 2 years and i'm 29 so just want to put a plan in place to actually manage the stock properly while also getting a handle on the numbers too. This year will also probably be a heavy doe cull with their sheer numbers
lol my brother is home in a few months from new Zealand I'd day he'll be home for a while while he looks for work so he will be useful to me for a few weeks to help fill the freezers once the does are in. Going to definitely get good looks at the prickets when I get a chance. Have a few trail cams set up so will be checking them on Saturday morning as well. See what's actually about after dark. These are quite nocturnal. Do catch them in the mornings out to about 10am but generally feed at night
