Finding the muntjacs

[kiwi]

Any help on sighting muntjac deer ?
Due to previous threads i believe there may be these deer in a area close to my house and seeing as ive only seen 1 wild deer in my life time I was hoping to get a sighting of this creature. There is plenty of bilberry for them to eat and lots of cover to hide in. So does any one know when ,where and how to spot these creatures?

Advice much appreciated.


Jordan

[NickCantle]

It depends how far you're willing to travel! Norfolk may be a long way from you, but it's got Red Deer, Roe Deer and an abundance of Muntjac.

[Mungo]

Hertfordshire has plenty of Muntjac.

[jennyb]

If you do have them close to your house, you are more likely to spot them in the early morning or evening around dusk. They are very nervous - more so than the roe deer in my experience.

Good luck.

Jenny

[kiwi]

Originally Posted by jennyb

If you do have them close to your house, you are more likely to spot them in the early morning or evening around dusk. They are very nervous - more so than the roe deer in my experience.

Good luck.

Jenny

Thank you you understood that i meant they are already in the area. Unfortunately i have no means of traveling that far at this age.
I shall go at dawn then and would summer or spring be a better time to get a sighting?
Also shall i just sit in a bush or something and wait for them to come to me? Or will they already know im there?

[paulthomas]

Originally Posted by kiwi

Thank you you understood that i meant they are already in the area. Unfortunately i have no means of traveling that far at this age.
I shall go at dawn then and would summer or spring be a better time to get a sighting?
Also shall i just sit in a bush or something and wait for them to come to me? Or will they already know im there?

Like most wild deer, Muntjac are very shy and elusive. Early morning would be a good time to go looking for them. The important thing is to be downwind of them and to be quiet. You could try "baiting" a location with apples for some days then stake it out to see what turns up. Personally I'd just walk a route every morning and hope for the best.

[jennyb]

Originally Posted by kiwi

Thank you you understood that i meant they are already in the area. Unfortunately i have no means of traveling that far at this age.
I shall go at dawn then and would summer or spring be a better time to get a sighting?
Also shall i just sit in a bush or something and wait for them to come to me? Or will they already know im there?

If you know an area that they frequent, then waiting in a hiding place would possibly work. Otherwise, as Paul says, putting out apples may tempt them. I also agree that you should be downwind.

I have found that they are in and out of my garden all year so I don't think the time of year matters too much. However, food is a bit scarce at the moment, so maybe the apples would work better now rather than when food is plentiful.

Jenny

[thunder]

Originally Posted by paulthomas

Like most wild deer, Muntjac are very shy and elusive. Early morning would be a good time to go looking for them. The important thing is to be downwind of them and to be quiet. You could try "baiting" a location with apples for some days then stake it out to see what turns up. Personally I'd just walk a route every morning and hope for the best.

I have often seen them active in the middle of the day (mind you, this was in a wood where at one time you could easily see forty an hour while walking round). They will also sometimes sit tight in cover as you walk past. I have several times had one leap up from nearby when I've started sweeping the rideside vegetation. Walking a regular route is a good idea - I have a feeling that Muntjac do the same!

henrya

[kiwi]

Thanks guys i will bait them soon and luckily those annoying barking dogs i have to walk past to get to the woods wont be there in the morning hopefully.
Are they dangerous because ive heard they attack dogs? Shall i just try not to startle them ?

[jennyb]

Originally Posted by kiwi

Thanks guys i will bait them soon and luckily those annoying barking dogs i have to walk past to get to the woods wont be there in the morning hopefully.
Are they dangerous because ive heard they attack dogs? Shall i just try not to startle them ?

They are not dangerous. I have them wandering around my garden regularly (day and night) and I have never seen such timid animals. I watched one get a bit too close to a pheasant at one time and the pheasant reacted really agressively. It was the muntjac that ran off, not the pheasant!

Jenny