Hi fellas
I spent a couple days 'visiting' my cousin in the Republic and managed to fit in a some stalking despite the inclemental weather. A couple pics are attached for your viewing pleasure.

Beautiful colours. Full of deer during misty rut mornings.


More Canada than Ireland!


Nice to be the first tracks on the road.



A tame herd of sika (displaying the fluffed out fur in response to a cheeky rabbit squeal).


Very elegant, looking for an apple.


A fallow fawn I shot


The rifle, a Blaser Attache 30-06, Swarovski 2-12x50 and 150 grain Federal Fusion ammo. The blackberry was a necessary evil as I had to remain "contactable".


All the best,

Gabriel

Looking back, the juxtaposition of the tame sika hind and me proudly holdijng a similar specimen is the biggest paradox for people who dislike hunting. How can I admire one and shoot the other?

I know you guys understand .

Wicklow?

I had five in two days in early December in the Glen of Amaal. It is absolutely beautiful down there. It is only two hours drive for me, I need to go more often.

Nope, Co. Galway.

Galway? I knew there were a lot of fallow in Galway, didn't realise there were Sika also.

The sika are not in Galway, they were a tame herd that we stopped off to see on the way back.

To be honest, I don't know where exactly they were located, some farm between Waterford and Galway!

some nice pictures, looks like a really nice part of the world.

the interpretation of the pictures is well understood.
im sure most guys here have admiration for all animals, its just sometime you have a rifle with you and other times you have a camera!

Bog

Thanks for posting. I like the picture with the snow in it especially. It looks like it makes for a very spectacular landscape to go hunting in.

I too presumed it was Wicklow wrongly - very interesting.

Thanks for the posting, that looks like a great trip. I lived and worked in the Republic for a time and would love to have a good hunting reason to go back there. A mate of mine and I are looking to spread our hunting wings a bit; could you tell me who you went with or who organised the trip? Any recommendations for siks or fallow in Ireland would be greatly appreciated.

Hi
I went with my cousin, just an annual hunting weekend rather than an organised trip.

I know of a couple stalkers there, but they are quite pricey and stick to Scandinavian hunters it seems.

I think IanF went stalking in Wicklow relatively recently, maybe he can make a recommendation?

quote:

Originally posted by Boghossian:
Nope, Co. Galway.

I remember playing golf at Portumna, Co. Galway and seeing many fallow in the woods as I walked through from the Shannon and a herd of about 20 grazed on the golf course as we played. I have a photo of me playing out of a bunker with the deer in the background.

There is no longer a maximum calibre restriction in Eire on rifle bore size?

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:
There is no longer a maximum calibre restriction in Eire on rifle bore size?

375 i think

Enfieldspares, I understand there is currently no caliber restriction in the Republic. As long as the local superintendent is satisfied you need the firearm.

They are even allowed to own pistols again!

I had a play with a Sako TRG in 338 Lapua Magnum when I was down there before Christmas. Mucho impressive piece of artillery, 210gr .338cal BT over about half a pint of powder.

Cranborne, PM me and I will give you the details of the guy I was with, he is excellent.

Cranborne Chase.

I have successfully stalked with John Fenton- details on the link:

http://www.thewicklowway.ie/donard.php

Incredible deer density - and very easy access via fly/drive thru Dublin.

Recommended if you want to spread your wings - with the benefit of a local craic, great Guiness and almost guaranteed numbers of beasts on the ground.

PM me if you would like any more detail - I am in no way financially connected, just a happy hunter!

Rgds Ian

Ian, it was Fenton I was with also. Huge numbers of deer. I shot five in two morning and one evening session - and I am a fat git, including the ugliest Hybrid brute you ever saw.

He told me that the recorded cull for the 2006-2007 season was over 8,000 deer in Wicklow alone. His personal opinion was that the actual numbers shot in Wicklow per season is in the 12-13,000 range.

quote:

There is no longer a maximum calibre restriction in Eire on rifle bore size?

As from the 1/5/08 there will be a restriction of .308win also on any pistol over.22 and any shotgun with more than 3 shots

quote:

Originally posted by 308mate:

quote:

There is no longer a maximum calibre restriction in Eire on rifle bore size?

As from the 1/5/08 there will be a restriction of .308win also on any pistol over.22 and any shotgun with more than 3 shots

Do you mean 308 Win is no longer allowed, or it is the maximum calibre?

Thanks,
FB

hi you are allowed 308 ,3006,and below these cals new laws restricted ones 338,8x57x,9.3 you must apply for them and give reason

hi claret were you using a acc in 338 lm with s&b on top if so i know the owner very well i have being using a sako 338lm with new 6x24x72 zeiss happy so far

I am about to move back home to Ireland after 14 long years.

When I left, it was tought to get more than a .22 Lr.

Before I go to the local Garda Station, can anyone give advice on how to go about getting a .375 H&H in Ireland. It's for eventual use in Africa - but is this justification enough?

Our family has a small bit of land for shooting, 34 acres in Dublin, and 100 in WestMeath (if this helps!).

Thanks,
Paul.

quote:

Originally posted by steyrman2:
hi you are allowed 308 ,3006,and below these cals new laws restricted ones 338,8x57x,9.3 you must apply for them and give reason

Steyrman2, do you know what has prompted this new law? Sounds silly to me.

hi there is a new firearms act out i will follow up on it later for you as for irishpaul i know there is a few lads with .375 if you pm me your email i will get you contact details of one of the lads has one hope this helps

Hi Bog,

I did a hunt with John (sika) Fenton in Wicklow a few years back and enjoyed it imensley!!!! John is one of the finest chaps I have hunted with. Also hunted Fallow with Robert Daly and Mickey McGuerk. I have invited the group here to the US for a bit of hunting and I hope to return to Wicklow for another Sika.

Hawkeye47