I just can’t see any problem with the way things are at the moment. Everyone that I know who wants to shoot deer and has a good work ethic have as many deer to go at as they could possibly want. On the flip side, everyone who I know who are struggling to get permissions are in my eyes un capable of doing a decent job anyway. The difficult process of accessing stalking as very valuable in my eyes, It filters out some of the chaff.
I understand where you are coming from, but try and put yourself in someone else's shoes with this example:
Person X has a permission on a large estate, containing a sizeable fallow herd which they have managed well for near enough a decade and although they are not the landowner, all seems well. However, a sudden and unfortunate death means that said land is sold, and the buyer reviews all shooting/stalking permissions. Person X is contacted by the new landowners holding company, who has had an offer from a large stalking syndicate to take over, but they are generous and thoughtful, and to show their appreciation of the work that Person X has put in over the years they are willing to offer a renewal of the stalking lease at a sum of £XX,XXX per annum.
Person X used to cover their own expenses (time, fuel, high-seats, larder, ammo etc) through venison sales and the occasional paid stalk, and the former landowner was happy with the arrangement. The new offer is well beyond the reach of Person X, so he has to give up. However, not all is lost as he still has some small bits of ground to manage, a farm on rolling hills with ample Roe.
Tragedy befalls Person X again, as the farmland has being seeing poor returns over the past decade despite consistent harvests and rising costs mean that an offer from an energy company to build a windfarm is reluctantly accepted by the farmer. Once again Peron X's permission comes under review, and it is decided that on health and safety grounds their permission is going to be suspended whilst the windfarms are being built. However, a large gamebird shoot takes an interest in the land, and an agreement is reached with the energy company and once construction ends they will get all shooting rights.
To heighten the pressure, all this coincides with FAC renewal time and with no permissions Person X is now very worried. Having mentored and witnessed many a novice, they have now gone from someone who has '
a good work ethic have as many deer to go at as they could possibly want.' To '
struggling to get permissions' and hence
'are in my eyes un capable of doing a decent job anyway.'
It seems that developments outside of Person X's control have helped to '
filter out some of the chaff'.
I'm not trying to twist your post
@minikeeper , and I appreciate your position, but the above example is based on the experiences of two stalkers who I have met, talked and stalked with, so they are very real possibilities. Both have had to make large adjustments to their lives which seems like a kick in the teeth when they have been providing a service which they did not exploit to make large profits, simply because it is their passion.
Food for thought, cheers.
