Welfare of deer threatened by Scottish government measures
BASC has described the Scottish government’s response to the deer working group report as a ‘grave concern’ for deer welfare.
- - Features
- - Features
The joys and challenges of autumn and winter stalking
As the female deer season gets underway, Martin Edwards looks forward to this critical time of year for deer management.
I must admit that my favourite season of the year is spring. The woods are bursting with new growth, the days are lengthening and stalking seems less frenetic. For one thing, there’s more time to get out, especially for those of us with full-time jobs. Having said that, I do enjoy the challenges that autumn and winter pose.
For many of us trying to manage the deer population the crucial cull occurs through these harder months. The main reason is this is the only time that you can legally kill females (except muntjac). Specifically, the female deer season opens on 1 November in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the start it coming slightly earlier in Scotland on 21 October.
As any population biologist will tell you, culling females is the key to limiting numbers. Every male that you remove from the population reduces the future population by one, whereas every mature female reduces next year’s population by at least two.
Consider a team cull
So what are the issues with the female cull? For one, the shorter days mean that it can be difficult to get out during the week. This leaves the weekends but this again can impinge on family time. Time is a real issue and if your landowner is claiming the deer supplement under a woodland grant scheme, then that effort has to be recorded.Â
So how do you make more time? I don’t think even Stephen Hawking found a way to do this.
However, you can increase your effort by using a team of cullers. I do this quite successfully now where I have two regular helpers who will join me for a morning. So four hours’ stalking actually equates to 12 hours of effort and what is more, we are usually more successful working together, as we bump the deer to each other.
Factor in the weather conditions
Another issue with the autumn and winter is the weather. Cold is not a problem and I actually prefer it – it knocks the cover down and thermal imaging works better. What is a hindrance are wet and windy days – deer move less and the rain can seriously affect your optics.
Also extraction is harder, as you can’t get your truck as near as you want without damaging fields and tracks. Quite often this may determine whether or not you shoot a deer on a particular field. Will you be able to extract it without too much difficulty? Again, a team of helpers is useful, but also see our video on extraction which has some handy hints.
Co-operate with other land users
If there is a game shoot on your permission they may be concerned about you disturbing their pheasants through the shooting season. Although the odd rifle shot is unlikely to cause much disturbance to gamebirds, this situation calls for some compromise and communication from both sides.
Gamekeepers are under a lot of pressure at this time of year and their whole year’s work is judged on a few shoot days. So, work with them and don’t stalk their main woods the day before a shoot day. Let them know when and where you will be out and use their knowledge of the deer to your advantage.
Getting your venison to the consumer
You should consider how you are going to get all your venison into the food chain. If you use a game dealer, talk to them before the start of the female season.
Make sure they want your deer and ask what prices they are willing to pay. Your dealer should be registered as an approved game handling establishment (AGHE). There are other rules and regulations governing the sale of venison – see the Food Standard Agency wild game guidance page for more information.
It’s worth asking your dealer when they expect peaks and troughs in supply and demand. Try to work with them to smooth these out.
If you have other outlets, then again speak to your customers to get an indication of what they want and when. If you eat your own, then now’s the time to clear your freezer out and make room for the winter harvest.
Also, try some new venison recipes; BASC’s Eat Game website has some excellent suggestions for everyday meals, as well as those for special occasions.
You can find more advice and guidance on deer management on our dedicated pages here.
Share
Martin Edwards
Martin Edwards is head of deer and woodland management at BASC as well as a DMQ board member, Approved Witness, Assessor and Internal Verifier.
Video story: How can you get the most out of your woodland?
Find out how managing woodland effectively can deliver for shooting, while also bringing significant benefits for wildlife and biodiversity.
BASC launches register of competent deer stalkers
The BASC register of competent deer stalkers is a new initiative which seeks to open up deer management opportunities for BASC members.