Oh deer, oh deer, oh deer... just shoot me.

[Cian McLiam]

Ever shoot a deer? I have. Now I know its a bit controversial to say it, but I like to shoot deer with a camera rather than a gun. I find it doesnt make me look like such a monster in front of the kids. Kids like deer apparently, and funnily enough they didnt seem to mind the kids all too much either.

I'm still not sure where the deer gets its apparent reputation for being nasty vermin and a danger to the public, I have to say I didn't witness any anti-social behaviours, the deer thought I was odd but not very tasty looking. I didn't see any switch blade knives or 9mm's and one of the deer told me they dont really like walking on roads at all. In fact, the only accident in recent memory was when some goon was chasing the deer with an air rifle causing them to run onto the road and into the path of an oncoming car. The driver was more interested in the ladies jogging

Here's the deer:

Say Cheese!

 

[Cat]

Aren't they beautiful animals

 

[Nidge]

Nice pictures Ken, Was that in the Phoenix park?

 

[William]

Taste better than cow though

 

[Cat]

Taste better than cow though

Do they sell deer meat in England ?

 

[William]

They do indeed, it's called Venison, tends to be really expensive in England, in Ireland it was more readily available and cheaper than beef too. BTW are they fallow deer?

Ken since i'm pretty sure you're not a vegetarian, what do you hold against cows, they can be pretty cute too

 

[Cat]

I'd just asked Dad, he said it was Venison and he likes it

So cows must have made a big impression on you while you were in Ireland

 

[William]

Well my dad did have a dairy herd of ~450.

 

[Cian McLiam]

Cows are cool, I think they're down right hilarious! (Must be too many Far Side cartoons ) I donthave anything against them

I think the difference is you dont see wannabe-rambos stalking the countryside shooting cows, the only farmers I respect respect their animals and look after their welfare and when it comes to 'the crunch', they do it humanely and efficiently. I guess thats a lot different to taking pot shots at wild animals to sooth the inner child.

Yes, Nidge, thats the Phoenix Park (this evening in fact!)

Never had Venison, I'm not a vegetarian though.

K

 

[William]

I think you will find the person you refered to earlier, with the airifle was breaking the law on multiple counts.

Wannabe rambos. Hardly. FYI, the vast bulk of Venison on the market today has come from deer parks just like the one you visited today, obviously I don't know of this particular park but judging from the excellent health the deer are in it would not suprise me if it was a managed population. Try some research on LACS deer park where no control was allowed - it is quite sad deer are suffering when the people do genuinely mean well.

Obviously I can't speak for the entire UK, but what I will say is that I have never seen a wannabee rambo stalking the countryside for deer either. On the highlands in Scotland you frequently see photographs of people in tweeds (bit posh but if it floats there boat and acts as camoflague so what??) off to shoot their stag / hinds. But lets take the shooting angle I ask you what is so wrong with it. The stalkers can't chase the deer, the deer would win any day and with a rifle you can't shoot a moving target. Cows on the other hand are herded up and the distress noises they make as they enter the abbatoir are very distressing. There are many courses which are available for learning about deer control - for example a quick search brings up: http/www.basc.org.uk/content/deerstalkingl1 .

At the end of the day, if I was an animal I would much rather be a deer living a free roaming life in the countryside when one day, perhaps two years down the line, or if I was a fine specimen even longer as deer stalkers always want to improve the gene pool of their herd, contrary to the idea in America of shoot the one with the biggest antlers. A shot to the heart with the calibre of rifle they use is virtually instantaneous death, a smash on the head in abbatoir is sadly too frequently not quick. The cows I am sure are forced into the abbatoir with full knowledge of what will happen, for the deer it is happily munching grass one second and the next is shot, it's a pretty nice way to go in my opinion.

FYI deer are not classified as Vermin in the UK but are Game and have a Shooting season which prohibits shooting during the breeding season, different months for different species as there are many species.

 

[Jess]

I nearly hit a deer in my car today. It was baby! Its mum and two brothers/sisters had already crossed the road and he just ran out infront of me!!! Had to swerve into the verge to avoid him! They're beautiful animals though and are certainly not vermin!! I have a lot that live in the fields around my house and we, nor our neighbours, have ever had any problems with them!! The dog likes them though! lol

Oh, and they sell salted deer meat in a club i VERY occassionally go to. Its very chewy... but that could just be because its in a little bag and left for God knows how long...



Oh, and my neighbour has cows!!! They're the cutest things... the little calves sometimes end up wandering around my horse's field, lost... so sweet!!!

Jess

 

[Cat]

Well my dad did have a dairy herd of ~450.

In Ireland?

 

[William]

Yep I'll take my camera next time i'm over in Sept.

 

[freshmike]

Beautiful animals. Thanks for the pictures, Cian.

 

[Wisperian]

Awwwwww so cute!