aldivalloch Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 I was speaking to my son on the phone earlier this evening. He's currently living in Dunkeld (Perthshire) and working on the new wind-farm at Aberfeldy. He told me that he was walking just off the site as the light was failing, and disturbed two deer which, he said, were thick-set and about the size of a Labrador. He's absolutely sure that they weren't roe, and I believe him as he's got a very good knowledge of wildlife. But have muntjac made their way that far north? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 Only if they've been released illegally, but there are idiots out there doing it trying to create sport for themselves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go Go Gadget Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 we have them in north yorkshire, seen 3 at the side of a large wood whilst driving in between scarbrough and pickering but i dont know if they are as far north as scotland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 there's yellow spots in Perthshire on this distribution map... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldivalloch Posted January 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 Thanks, gentlemen! I'll tell him to keep an eye out for further sightings. He's up on the site every day and always has his binoculars with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted January 21, 2013 Report Share Posted January 21, 2013 Only if they've been released illegally, but there are idiots out there doing it trying to create sport for themselves I wouldn't call these people idiots , nothing wrong with trying to provide yourself with some sport. If they want to release some more in the North East I would be more than happy as I have to travel South to stalk them , the more up North the better I say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustJon Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 As I understand it though the Muntjac push the other deer species out? They create an imbalance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 I wouldn't call these people idiots , nothing wrong with trying to provide yourself with some sport. If they want to release some more in the North East I would be more than happy as I have to travel South to stalk them , the more up North the better I say. Oh they are idiots the Scottish are going to have a shoot on sight policy but they are a very invasive species which are causing a lot of problems in woodland and are really going to damage our native woodland over time. Your selfish attitude is the same as those releasing them and speeding up their spread its not good in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Oh they are idiots the Scottish are going to have a shoot on sight policy but they are a very invasive species which are causing a lot of problems in woodland and are really going to damage our native woodland over time. Your selfish attitude is the same as those releasing them and speeding up their spread its not good in the long run. I have to agree with you Al4x, we have the same problem down here with the boar, the forestry are only suppose to cull so many as under the scrutiny of the Kate Humble and er mates, rumour has it they are trapping and releasing all over the place. That leaves other unfortunate chaps like myself to go out and shoot em, if life isnt hard enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 Oh they are idiots the Scottish are going to have a shoot on sight policy but they are a very invasive species which are causing a lot of problems in woodland and are really going to damage our native woodland over time. Your selfish attitude is the same as those releasing them and speeding up their spread its not good in the long run. Unlike other species of deer in Britain muntjac do not cause significant damage to agricultural or timber crops. In high densities they can play havoc with some plants i.e. Primulas but I'd rather have muntjac than Primulas ..... no fun stalking primulas :lol: Let them go forth and multiply quickly I say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 22, 2013 Report Share Posted January 22, 2013 (edited) Unlike other species of deer in Britain muntjac do not cause significant damage to agricultural or timber crops. In high densities they can play havoc with some plants i.e. Primulas but I'd rather have muntjac than Primulas ..... no fun stalking primulas :lol: Let them go forth and multiply quickly I say Oh deer (did you see what I did there?) I have no desire to spoil anyones "sport" and I am not normally given to personal comments, but anyone who does actually transport/import Muntjac to a new area is an idiot! lb for lb Muntjac are by far the most destructive deer in this country. They do damage on a monumental scale to wild/domestic plants and crops etc, and cause unbelievable grief to ground nesting birds on a RSPB site I look after. You don't want them and personally I would be very happy if they had never found their way into the wild. (even though they do taste exceptionally fine) Edited January 22, 2013 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 Unlike other species of deer in Britain muntjac do not cause significant damage to agricultural or timber crops. In high densities they can play havoc with some plants i.e. Primulas but I'd rather have muntjac than Primulas ..... no fun stalking primulas :lol: Let them go forth and multiply quickly I say Spot on FH. I will make a bold statement now....but grey squirrels do more damage to trees than all the deer species put together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 Despite being 'prettier' roe [iMO] are infinitely more destructive than muntjac. Muntjac get a lot of bad press, and a lot of it isn't justified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 You don't want them and personally I would be very happy if they had never found their way into the wild. (even though they do taste exceptionally fine) Like it or not they are here to stay and will eventually colonise the whole UK . There are plenty " idiots" as you call them releasing muntjac all over the country just wish they would release some near me and I will look after them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 An area of woodland in Wiltshire that I'm lucky enough to cull Munties in has several penned off areas to keep deer out as a controlled environment to monitor deer impact. Inside these compounds there's loads of regeneration, bluebells and bramble, not on the outside but admittingly there is also a population of Roe. Muntjac will walk over five foot whips so they can eat the tops out but this is easy sorted with a stout stake. Muntjac have opened up deer stalking opportunities for many people as they are so adaptable and can easily live in areas with little or no woodland. As mentioned earlier the grey squirrel is more distructive than all the deer put together, not only can it damage new trees it can also do something deer never will, kill mature trees. It seems that the grey tide is impossible to control especially now you cannot poison them. Muntjac if managed correctly are a great resouce,( how this can be achieved is another matter) taste great and give many an affordable heart pumping first encounter through the cross hairs with a deer.It really is a bitter sweet situation but if you put it to the vote Dekers I think the Munty would be fore rather than against, after all we are mainly hunters on this forum not paper mill owners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 (edited) Spot on FH. I will make a bold statement now....but grey squirrels do more damage to trees than all the deer species put together. I think you will find those well intentioned folk who introduced the Grey into this country a 100 or more years ago would now be referred to by many as idiots. DEFRA and the FC have actively been involved in reducing/removing the Grey from this country for over 5 years, a task they will never achieve and which has cost the taxpayer £Millions, on top of all the damage the Grey has done to other wildlife and the countryside. Quite why the Grey has been brought into this debate is beyond me, but frankly it is nothing but an excellent example of why we should be controlling/removing the Muntjac rather than promoting its spread! Edited January 23, 2013 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 (edited) An area of woodland in Wiltshire that I'm lucky enough to cull Munties in has several penned off areas to keep deer out as a controlled environment to monitor deer impact. Inside these compounds there's loads of regeneration, bluebells and bramble, not on the outside but admittingly there is also a population of Roe. Muntjac will walk over five foot whips so they can eat the tops out but this is easy sorted with a stout stake. Muntjac have opened up deer stalking opportunities for many people as they are so adaptable and can easily live in areas with little or no woodland. As mentioned earlier the grey squirrel is more distructive than all the deer put together, not only can it damage new trees it can also do something deer never will, kill mature trees. It seems that the grey tide is impossible to control especially now you cannot poison them. Muntjac if managed correctly are a great resouce,( how this can be achieved is another matter) taste great and give many an affordable heart pumping first encounter through the cross hairs with a deer.It really is a bitter sweet situation but if you put it to the vote Dekers I think the Munty would be fore rather than against, after all we are mainly hunters on this forum not paper mill owners. I don't remember the last time I actually used poison on them, but I missed that one, when was Warfarin banned for the Grey? Cheers Edited January 23, 2013 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 I would not refer to the people who initially brought grey squirrels to this country as idiots. But I will refer to the ones in much more recent years deliberately took and released grey squirrels to Scotland as idiots, ie the Greys in and around Aberdeen and again in and around Glasgow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 (edited) double post! Edited January 23, 2013 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 Its a difficult one, you could argue the same with fallow, another import but those that do not have them on ground around them would love to see them, from a stalking point of view. Like I said earlier this is a shooting forum, same post on farmers weekly website would probably go, 'shoot em all, Roe, Fallow, Munties and CWD's '. Unless they have a commercial value farmers don't like em full stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 I don't remember the last time I actually used poison on them, but I missed that one, when was Warfarin banned for the Grey? Cheers I was at a meeting with AONB last year and it was brought up by welsh forestry, not sure when it was banned but apparently so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essex Keeper Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 my cousin was based at st andrews scotland they had one get stuck in the fence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 I was at a meeting with AONB last year and it was brought up by welsh forestry, not sure when it was banned but apparently so. Ok thats news to me, and plenty of baits appear to be on sale still for the Squirrel, time to start another thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 An area of woodland in Wiltshire that I'm lucky enough to cull Munties in has several penned off areas to keep deer out as a controlled environment to monitor deer impact. Inside these compounds there's loads of regeneration, bluebells and bramble, not on the outside but admittingly there is also a population of Roe. Muntjac will walk over five foot whips so they can eat the tops out but this is easy sorted with a stout stake. Muntjac have opened up deer stalking opportunities for many people as they are so adaptable and can easily live in areas with little or no woodland. As mentioned earlier the grey squirrel is more distructive than all the deer put together, not only can it damage new trees it can also do something deer never will, kill mature trees. It seems that the grey tide is impossible to control especially now you cannot poison them. Muntjac if managed correctly are a great resouce,( how this can be achieved is another matter) taste great and give many an affordable heart pumping first encounter through the cross hairs with a deer.It really is a bitter sweet situation but if you put it to the vote Dekers I think the Munty would be fore rather than against, after all we are mainly hunters on this forum not paper mill owners. Well said. If you polled most stalkers up North I think they would gladly welcome muntjac. Redgum can I come to Wilts and shoot some munties to stop them spreading North Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 Ok thats news to me, and plenty of baits appear to be on sale still for the Squirrel, time to start another thread! Looks like what I was told may have either been one type of bait, something unique to the Welsh forestry, or a load of ball because I can't find anything to back it up on the internet so appologies. It would be a bit mad thinking about it as you can still poison mice and rats no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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