Norfolk Deer Search
Well-Known Member
Absolutely spot on!
Gamekeeping Help
- Thread starter Hk92
- Start date
Sol
Well-Known Member
Being a Keeper Is a family tradition just like farming, If you want to be an underkeeper a large majority of places will expect you to be the son or daughter of a gamekeeper In your youth at least.
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Deer Ranger Is probably a better choice since there's no shortage of deer, or really much chance of said job "dying out"
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Deer Ranger Is probably a better choice since there's no shortage of deer, or really much chance of said job "dying out"
Sol
Well-Known Member
I actually have no clue how you would go about applying for a job to do stalking for the forestry commission however I've been told your paid per deer shot by a friend, so If your very keen It seems like it could be a great job to do.
I think I would quite enjoy it, however dragging the things out is the other question....
I think I would quite enjoy it, however dragging the things out is the other question....
Having done it for fifty years, I can see that I was very lucky, there cannot be a long term future for any one now. But if you are determined to try you will need tickets, chainsaw, quad, snaring , rodent control, game hygiene, driving licence including trailer, there is a long list of qualifications that will help.
Going the college route will maybe help with a placement as trainee on an estate.
Going the college route will maybe help with a placement as trainee on an estate.
True my father said the exact same to me when I was leaving school did I listen did I like I am now 73 and wouldn't change a thing
Had a life in a job I loved sure the money is not great and we all have bills to pay but there is much more to life than money.
If your focus In life is earning money then keepering is not for you.
If you think of keepering as a job, it's not for you it's a way of life.
My brother also went in to keepering stuck it a few years then went chasing the big money rolling it in for a few years then the work became harder to get periods out of work until it dried up completely he hasn't worked
for over twenty years, me I'm still working only part time now not.because I have to but because I want to still enjoy the job.
I.would say overall I have had the more satisfying life
How many can say the enjoy their work, I certainly have.
There will always be a place for stalkers be that private estates or forestry companies.
There is also the issue of several colleges churning out lads and lasses each year with certificates up the ying Yang but more qualified students than there are positions available.
The lucky one might get a year’s placement until the next years cheap labour are churned out.
The lucky one might get a year’s placement until the next years cheap labour are churned out.
Guess at the end of the day you must follow your star or calling for better or worse, if not in love with concept of gamekeeping take heed from what others have said who have direct experience and much wisdom and focus on a career deer related with say forestry England or one of the large private companies.
Contact them and ask their advice on what you can do to help with future applications and if possible follow through and work towards it though easier said than done.
If gamekeeping is what your heart is set on sparsholt or similar could be the way forewords, a lot will depend on what or who you are as a person and if you are suited to the lifestyle as not for many.
The only certainty is gamekeeping as we know it today will not last that long and future not bright with increasing legislation turning the job into a living nightmare for some who cannot get out and must continue.
Best of luck with what you decide is best for you at end of the day.
Contact them and ask their advice on what you can do to help with future applications and if possible follow through and work towards it though easier said than done.
If gamekeeping is what your heart is set on sparsholt or similar could be the way forewords, a lot will depend on what or who you are as a person and if you are suited to the lifestyle as not for many.
The only certainty is gamekeeping as we know it today will not last that long and future not bright with increasing legislation turning the job into a living nightmare for some who cannot get out and must continue.
Best of luck with what you decide is best for you at end of the day.
There might be no shortage of deer nation-wide, but it is a fact that some areas of Scotland have had their deer populations cut in half, at the very least, over the last 10 years.
Plan of the SNP is to apply that nation-wide, as deer are a natural resource, and the control of natural resources is a key to power (reduce rural populations who don't vote SNP by literally killing a part of the rural economy, and put a windfarm up instead).
Yup, all contracts are a gamble now. Let the contract holder worry about obtaining the all important number that head office want for their Holyrood Powerpoints.
Depends on how 'good' you are.
To be a 'good' contractor (i.e earn enough money to make it worthwhile as a single source of income) you need to be efficient as possible, since costs (copper bullets, diesel, pickup, insurance, thermal, wages for assitants, yearly training/recertification) are only going up.
The most efficient way to cull deer is to shoot them from a vehicle, as it speeds up extraction and allows you to cover more ground. Trouble is a vehicle (even an ATV) requires some form of road/path/track.
Many forests lack the necessary planning, investment and maintenance to keep these tracks usable, so the task is only made harder.
On average you'll need to get 1 deer per hour when shooting from a vehicle to even have a hope of turning a profit.
You might walk to a secluded area and shoot 3 deer, but if it takes you the rest of the day to get them back to the vehicle in a presentable condition, and then you need to drive back to the designated facility (sometimes very far away) in order to larder them, you are probably losing money.
Now keep in mind that goats don't need to be taken back for processing, then realise why everyone who guides complains about FLS killing all the feral goats...
So, reality check. As is intimated in a few posts above, the opportunities for keepers are sadly dwindling. If it's something you feel you really, really want to do, then who am I (or anyone else on here) to stop you? Take the advice to have another string to your bow though. It doesn't have to be something vaguely related to gamekeeping, such as stalking or farm work. In fact there's something to be said if it isn't. It could be something like bricklaying, plumbing or electrician. These are all jobs you can pretty much find anytime or indeed you could employ yourself! I know one keeper who had a trade, is self-employed and is able to juggle both well. You can take on more work out of season and wind back when the keeping is taking more time. This gives you more scope. Get a job as a keeper/underkeeper/beat keeper or whatever? Splendid! Only find a part time one, or even a voluntary one? No problem, you've got your trade to fall back on. Get too old/get injured so you can't keep? No problem, you've got that trade still.
spread your talents and you are much more likely to not end up on the dole.
spread your talents and you are much more likely to not end up on the dole.
Morkai
Well-Known Member
At least the trailer part is standard now with a car license, saves doing a test.
I'd agree that agricultural college would be a good step to as you've said.
Keeperjosh
Well-Known Member
I once found myself in the same quandary. It’s not a job, nor is it a hobby. It’s a complete way of life and not one that only affects yourself, but your immediate family too.
I’ve taken the difficult decision to walk away from it whilst I have other opportunities available. I would be happy to discuss my personal experiences, and you can draw your own conclusions from them if you wish. Just drop me a message.
I’ve taken the difficult decision to walk away from it whilst I have other opportunities available. I would be happy to discuss my personal experiences, and you can draw your own conclusions from them if you wish. Just drop me a message.
landkeeper
Well-Known Member
Been there got the t shirt as I've written in similar threads in the past
It's a fantastic way of life when your young free and single however when spouse and children come into the equation it can be difficult ,the uncertainty of syndicates and changing land ownership etc makes a lot of keepering jobs unsecure
Buy a house pay a mortgage and secure yourself for later years would be my biggest piece of advice
It's a fantastic way of life when your young free and single however when spouse and children come into the equation it can be difficult ,the uncertainty of syndicates and changing land ownership etc makes a lot of keepering jobs unsecure
Buy a house pay a mortgage and secure yourself for later years would be my biggest piece of advice
I would say to any youngster that if it's your ambition and you have a passion for gamekeeping, then give it your best shot. I would recommend a college course in something like gamekeeping and wildlife management. This will widen opportunities than just gamekeeping. When I was young, people were saying there's no future in gamekeeping. It wasn't easy to get a job in that line either. If it all goes tits up, then you just have to diversify. If you don't give it a go, then you will never know. I pleased I did.
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