So if you have an animal that is very old and is part of the cull plan but it has a decent set of antlers it becomes a trophy animal as apposed to a cull animal is this correct. If it is what charge is given for such an animal.
Hi 6p, as far as our Roe deer management policy is concerned, we have a clear distinction between what is a cull, and what is a trophy. In the case of an old animal that is going back, and needing to be removed, then yes this will be sold as a trophy as opposed to a cull.
Our charges for trophies are quite high. This is done purposely to recoup part of the cost of getting that animal to maturity, and thus encouraging propagation of those genetics, and also partly to discourage the desire to shoot good animals, just for the sake of a decent set of antlers.
Whilst Jelen Deer Services is NOT a trophy or sporting shooting organisation, the removal of old trophy animals nevertheless forms a significant part of not only the economics of estate deer management, but also the overall welfare of the remaining deer on the estate. They have a significant value that - from an economic viewpoint - it would be foolish not to utilise that potential for revenue.
Each year these selected animals are sold as trophies at the optimum time - and at the optimum value. If we don't do this, then come April the following year, those animals would probably be displaced by a younger, stronger buck and move off the estate to either to battle for a home, be shot by someone else, or live in a thick hedge somewhere until it dies!
Your question about charges? Well in the limited circumstances, we would be charging £245 for a good 6 pointer that we felt was a good representative animal, but NOT good enough to keep on for future herd improvement. £540 for Bronze medal, £690 for Silver medal, and £980 for Gold medal.
These animals are the result of perhaps 5, 6, 7 years good management. So when broken down, it's still not a great return for a 7 year old animal - at £140/year, less than than the value of one day's stalking for cull beasts. On top of this we get a stalking fee £75.00, and also the venison carcass £40 - £50.
As far as the cull beasts are concerned, our management policy is simple! Given the ideal habitat we have here in Hampshire, if a roe buck can't grow six points, or at least four good, long points in it's first head, then quite simply, genetically it is no good. So we aim to shoot EVERY sub standard roe buck as early in the season as possible. That way we capitalise on a cull animal that may well disappear over the boundary, even though it may have come from across the boundary in the first place.
On our estates, we don't cull ANY mature does unless they are clearly very old or otherwise sick/injured, so the doe season consists almost entirely of yearling animals. Only the very best are left.
Hope that clarifies things a bit.
regards,
Mike
(Director - Jelen Deer Services)
Jelen Deer Services