Deer management, an activity undertaken quietly and in solitude, enjoyed — or perhaps more accurately endured — a brief moment of national attention here in Ireland. An incident in Kerry raised questions regarding the management of red deer in the county. In late October a red stag was observed by…
Deer Stalking
How many antler points can a stag grow? And what are they called?
Q: How many points can a red stag in the wild be expected to grow when they are at their best in this country? And what is the definition of a ‘Royal’ and an ‘Imperial’. There are many variables which impact on the number of points on stag antlers (or tines),…
Where am I most likely to find deer antlers?
Everyone's expressing concern at increasing deer numbers, but why do I never find cast antlers during my walks through the woods?
What’s the law on carrying a knife for hunting?
My son and his friend recently returned home with some un-paunched rabbits. When I asked him why he said they were concerned about carrying a knife in case they were stopped by police.
Can you shoot muntjac with air rifles and shotguns?
Ignore photographs of foreigners using air rifles to shoot Mubtjac rifles because this is illegal in Britain, George advises
Going for a Macnab
Better luck next time,” the stalker said to me, patting my shoulder, as I watched the winded stags gallop away over the hill. That had been my second attempt at bagging a Macnab and I had failed. The previous occasion had seen me catch a fish before breakfast, grass a…
What’s the best way to dispatch an injured deer?
If I have to use my rifle to despatch an injured deer, what's the best way of doing it?
Choosing a calibre
I am a keen deerstalker and use a Sako .243. I intend to invest in another rifle with a larger calibre and was thinking of .270, 30-06 or .308. I want it for red deer, the odd fallow and hunting trips abroad. What calibre would you suggest?
Can I go deer stalking with a .22 for the smaller species?
When deer stalking, I thought the smallest calibre rifle I could use was a .243? However, I’ve been hearing my .22 bunny gun is legally acceptable.
What is the max killing range for a 100 grain .243 bullet?
Deer stalking: What do you reckon is the ethical max killing range for a 100 grain .243 bullet for a heart/lung shot on Roe?
What is a perruque head on a deer?
At the end of the rut a yearling buck on my ground was still in dark velvet and showed no signs of drying. The buck has an ear-high four-point head and appears in excellent condition. Is this a perruque and, if so, how long will it take to develop?
14 popular rifles for deerstalking
Our experts have reviewed 14 rifles for deer stalking that have proven popular and ranked highly with our reviewers. 1. Steyr Mannlicher Pro Hunter Our reviewer notes that you don’t see many of these on the shelves of second-hand gun dealers. Is that because it’s an unpopular model or because owners…
Choosing the right bullets for deer stalking
Stalkers have an abundance of bullets to choose from, but how do you select the right one? Bruce Potts outlines what you need to consider
For deer stalking, is .243 calibre too small?
Deer stalking: Is .243 calibre too small for anything other than roe deer and foxes?
Deer seasons
Here is our list of deer seasons for shooting. All dates shown below are inclusive. Red deer England and Wales: Aug 1-April 30 (stags) Nov 1 – Mar 31 (hinds) Scotland: July 1-Oct 20 (stags) Oct 21-Feb 15 (hinds) Northern Ireland: Aug 1-April 30 (stags) Nov 1-March 31 (hinds) …
How expensive is stalking red stags?
One of the country’s most majestic animals, the red deer is Scotland’s largest native land mammal and one of its most sought-after sporting trophies. But how much does it cost to shoot a stag? View this post on Instagram Loading the kill #shooting #gameshooting #fieldsports #shotgun #gameseason #countrysports #huntingseason #hunting #lovehunting #gamekeeping #gamebirds #countrylife…
How it took a day’s hunting for me to understand ethical meat
I am languishing on my patio, riding out the horror of a three-day, post-music-festival hangover, when the phone rings. It’s Patrick Galbraith, an old friend and the Editor of Shooting Times. “Hi pal, I’ve been thinking about cooking up some squirrels and a deer and I was wondering if you…
How long should you hang a deer carcass?
When should a disembowled deer carcus be moved into a refrigerator?
Which deer species offers the most delicious venison?
Which is the most delicious venison? Muntjac We kicked off the tasting with the smallest species. After the first bite Nick and I were both wondering if we’d tried the best first — how could the others compete? Muntjac has the mildest flavour of all the species. Yet it is…
How to call muntjac deer
Learning how to call muntjac deer can be a deadly tactic but you need a strategy, stealth and a good call, writes Graham Downing