Wood Pigeon Hunting: The greenest of Europe's destinations, Ireland, offers the opportunity to hunt wood pigeons in large numbers. The welcome, the nature and the landscapes make Ireland one of the most popular destinations among hunters from all over the world.
Ireland has always been a symbol of unspoiled nature for the green of its pastures and clover meadows. These landscapes give the visitor unique sensations in the world, thanks to the diligent administration of the territory by the Irish authorities who care for and protect fauna and flora. The hunter who wishes to make a hunting trip abroad cannot fail to consider Ireland as a chosen destination.
The latter is undoubtedly an enchanted place to hunt, especially all those migrants who go to spend the winter there. Near the south-west tip of Ireland, where the mountains of County Kerry with their moors, bogs and gorse patches glued to the rocky banks connect with conifer plantations, beech woods, and shrubland along the endless streams and streams of this mid-mountain area. In particular, through both the conifer plantations, which have grown considerably in recent years, and the woods around the peat bogs and the natural habitat, the number of woodcocks has considerably increased.
The territory of Kerry, in fact, offers a very rich choice of huntable species such as snipe, which in Ireland are sedentary, the woodcock (which reaches the Irish territory after breeding in north-western Europe, usually arriving with the full moon of November, and then overwintering in an area where the climate is mild even in the usually coldest months), pheasants, hares and then in the estuaries, along the rivers or in the lakes the ducks.
For lovers of ball hunting, Ireland does not disappoint, as there is an abundance of Sika deer of Asian origin, which was introduced after the mid-800th century. This species of ungulate is smaller than the most common deer, having a weight that is around 60 kilograms for the male and an average trophy of eight points. However, Ireland's most coveted and most famous prey is undoubtedly the wood pigeon.
In Ireland i wood pigeons they are sedentary and are found there in enormous quantities. Since they are considered harmful to agriculture, given their very high number, wood pigeons are used to literally devour any type of cultivation, especially the wheat, barley, peas and rapeseed of which they are particularly greedy, during the harvest that normally goes from early July to mid-September. For this reason, in Ireland, during this period in which large concentrations of this wild bird form in the fields of wheat, barley, peas and canola in the counties of Carlow and Kildare, where they continually go to eat, the authorities encourage hunting trips through which can be carried out numerous killing of this harmful species.
It should be noted that the counties of Carlow and Kildare are the best areas in Ireland for the cultivation of wheat and barley and are located 70/80 km southwest of Dublin. In fact, many Irish and foreign hunters consider these places to be the best in the world to settle the wood pigeon, managing to fill their game bag with a disproportionate number of culled specimens.
The period in which it is possible to hunt the wood pigeon runs from 1 June to 31 January, although the months of July and August are considered the best, as the fields of barley and wheat are luxuriant. In these months the climate is quite mild, with temperatures ranging between 18 and 21 degrees during the day. Generally the tour operators that organize hunting trips in Ireland offer as accommodation the hunting lodge, a typical hunting house with all the comforts.
Direct flights from Italy take about two hours.
As far as clothing is concerned, knee-high boots or mountain boots, camouflage and waterproof clothing, berettino, caps or caps and the rifle sheath to be used on hunting days are recommended. Many recommend dressing in layers because at this time of year the weather can change suddenly, with sudden changes in temperature. Each hunter can bring with him one or two shotguns even of the same caliber, if automatic with the three-shot stop, barrel (s) longer than 62 cm., But the spare barrel is not allowed and shotguns are not allowed. pump or similar.
Bring at least one shotgun reserve is highly recommended. The air transport of the rifles must take place in special rigid cases, according to the regulations in force. In terms of cartridges in Ireland you can find excellent quality of all leads at € 10.00 per box of 25 cartridges. The most demanding can carry their favorite brands and leads in special containers, for a maximum of 5 kg of cartridges, compressed the weight of the container. Generally, airlines allow suitcases for a maximum weight of 20-21 kg per person.
If Ireland is green and luxuriant it is because nature is respected, therefore the collection of fired shells is mandatory. Irish law does not provide for the rental of shotguns in Ireland.
Finally, the game bag: there are no limitations of heads and the cost of owning the game is not very onerous. As a rule, every hotel or hunting lodge provides a refrigerator for the storage of shot game and there is no export tax and no veterinary certificates are required as Ireland is a member of the EEC. Therefore no queues at the veterinary offices.
The game bags can be shipped without any problem like ordinary baggage, since in the holds of the aircraft during the flight the temperature is around -20 °, so there is no risk that it can "go bad".
Ireland represents an opportunity for those wishing to go on a hunting trip abroad.
On the internet there are dozens of testimonies on the main forums and networks about hunting trips to Ireland. In any case, the rule always applies: seeing is believing.