STALKING LEASES

They should be paying us to provide a service. The economics are the wrong way round.

Deer populations higher than they have ever been, forest flora and fauna is getting battered, woods are literally dying with no regeneration.

But you boys keep on paying, and it's small beer for most gentry in the scheme of things.
Unfortunately, and maybe not relevant to you but part of the reason for high deer numbers is the syndicates and the stalkers that hold the leases.

If it was going to be a situation where stalkers are paid to do the job there would be a huge number of stalkers giving up their rifles because they have nowhere to shoot.
 
Unfortunately, and maybe not relevant to you but part of the reason for high deer numbers is the syndicates and the stalkers that hold the leases.

If it was going to be a situation where stalkers are paid to do the job there would be a huge number of stalkers giving up their rifles because they have nowhere to shoot.
So true. The stalking bought by trophy hunters who have no interest in does. Populations go up massively but the land owner is making good money so puts up with it.
 
As a syndicate manager I have chosen not to put our lease prices up this year and it has stayed the same for the last 5 years , however OUR costs are higher this year with extra tax increase etc . but we have taken the hit on that.,
Did you give them a reduction for the time they could not get on the ground ?.
 
Did you give them a reduction for the time they could not get on the ground ?.
No because the only time they could not go is when most deer were out of season anyways , I checked back previous years calendars and there was no change in behaviour last year as there was in previous years , Noone seems to spend too much time on our properties between March and August . it is the same every year pandemic or not. most activity on our properties are between end of August and November even January is down to a few hardcore few.

As far as our woods were concerned only 2 woods were actually closed, yes travel restrictions applied but that did not seem to effect those wanting to travel. But between June and September last year it was not illegal to come to the Highlands as only Glasgow and central belt was on Lockdown.

Not much change has happened even over the pandemic . Bare in mind though the Highlands were in tier 1 until 2 days before Christmas.

Just to add we never got a reduction on our costs in fact our costs went up last year due to increased taxes etc so it was better to price freeze.
 
They should be paying us to provide a service. The economics are the wrong way round.

Deer populations higher than they have ever been, forest flora and fauna is getting battered, woods are literally dying with no regeneration.

But you boys keep on paying, and it's small beer for most gentry in the scheme of things.
How many people get paid to go pigeon shooting or rabbit shooting? It's also protecting the farmer's investment!
 
Back in the day, it was not uncommon for the farmer to supply shotgun shells to their pigeon shooters.

Back in the day...
And supply Bale hides. I had experience of this right up until 1980 then the Son took over the farm from his father and that all changed.
I had to ring him to find out if it was 'worth me going' it wasn't very often when I wanted to go but I saw shooting going on and found out people were willing to pay and that put paid to my local pigeon shooting.
 
Which ever way you look at it,,its way way,,hold on Way too expensive,I coulnt give a rats ,,who does what ,so therfore this ,that the Bl===din other is a dinky old deer.
 
Let me mention a few home truths when it comes to deer management, syndicates etc and those who are actually in the business will tell you I am telling the truth .

Recreational stalking does not reduce deer numbers, so that argument is blown out of the water. Let me start, those who do not pay for their shooting do not feel obligated to go out shooting, its there for when real life is not getting in the way because we all know real life does get in the way like wise the weather. All to often those with free shooting just cant be arsed in going out and put it off then complain when its gone when they can be bothered to go.

Even many of those who pay for stalking do so but they also expect to go out and see lots of deer, selective culls do not reduce significant numbers, those culls are designed to help specimen breeding only. So handing you all free stalking wont make any difference to deer populations.

In the current times there is no market for venison, it is a nightmare which means that motivation for anyone to cull deer is not there which makes it worse which in returns removes the enthusiasm for recreational stalkers who mean to make money from there deer as there is just so much venison you can put into your own freezers.

Now in regards to syndicates, the reason why they exist is because landowners make money from their shooting rights and landowners still have the responsibility of managing the deer numbers so they sell their rights for one lump sum to one person then that person distributes the cost within a syndicate to make it more affordable for all.

We can get into the age old argument about deer shooting cost but while an estate can charge as much as £1500 for a days stalk to shoot one deer and the client cannot take it home then what you pay for a syndicate is nothing in comparison specially when I had one guy on one of our cheapest places take home 10 deer last year, bare in mind a there was a pandemic on, 2 of his stags were over 12 points making them Royals ( that could cost as much as £1500 on an estate) and one of his stags was a 8 point Sika. and all 10 he was able to take home all for the princely sum of £600 plus VAT I rest my case. Yes he may share that property with 4 others and yes it is lucky but that is deer stalking.

I hate seeing people in one sentence say "there is a reason there is too many deer" but on the other say , "such and such shoots too many deer"

One of the reasons why I rarely get involved in conversations over this anymore.
 

Excellent


Let me mention a few home truths when it comes to deer management, syndicates etc and those who are actually in the business will tell you I am telling the truth .

Recreational stalking does not reduce deer numbers, so that argument is blown out of the water. Let me start, those who do not pay for their shooting do not feel obligated to go out shooting, its there for when real life is not getting in the way because we all know real life does get in the way like wise the weather. All to often those with free shooting just cant be arsed in going out and put it off then complain when its gone when they can be bothered to go.

Even many of those who pay for stalking do so but they also expect to go out and see lots of deer, selective culls do not reduce significant numbers, those culls are designed to help specimen breeding only. So handing you all free stalking wont make any difference to deer populations.

In the current times there is no market for venison, it is a nightmare which means that motivation for anyone to cull deer is not there which makes it worse which in returns removes the enthusiasm for recreational stalkers who mean to make money from there deer as there is just so much venison you can put into your own freezers.

Now in regards to syndicates, the reason why they exist is because landowners make money from their shooting rights and landowners still have the responsibility of managing the deer numbers so they sell their rights for one lump sum to one person then that person distributes the cost within a syndicate to make it more affordable for all.

We can get into the age old argument about deer shooting cost but while an estate can charge as much as £1500 for a days stalk to shoot one deer and the client cannot take it home then what you pay for a syndicate is nothing in comparison specially when I had one guy on one of our cheapest places take home 10 deer last year, bare in mind a there was a pandemic on, 2 of his stags were over 12 points making them Royals ( that could cost as much as £1500 on an estate) and one of his stags was a 8 point Sika. and all 10 he was able to take home all for the princely sum of £600 plus VAT I rest my case. Yes he may share that property with 4 others and yes it is lucky but that is deer stalking.

I hate seeing people in one sentence say "there is a reason there is too many deer" but on the other say , "such and such shoots too many deer"

One of the reasons why I rarely get involved in conversations over this anymore.

No no, that wont do! Simply attach said appendage
 
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