But Tim, we are thankfully free from the additional autocracy and complications of having to have a Scottish Venison Dealer's Licence. I feel for Stuart and Paul as I'm in a similar position, but thankfully am unfettered by the Scottish dimension.
There are no AGHE around me here that provide a sensible outlet for my carcasses and my stalking was becoming increasingly constrained by my ability to deal with the carcasses. Whilst GUTG provided an outlet for some, I was still butchering many so what do you do with the products? I'm "blessed" to have my eldest daughter still living with at home and she is a stunning game cook, producing fine dining night after night so we do eat a lot. I gift much to "friends and family" but it was only late last year that I turned a corner when the results of cold-calling a local farm shop and a restaurant resulted in a fairly constant demand. Coupled with that, I too have been doing a monthly farmer's market in the village since the beginning of the year and like Stuart, have felt the "pressure" to cull sufficient in the run-up that to have stock to trade. Indeed, I had to call in a favour a couple of months ago from a colleague for 2 fallow prickets just to get sufficient product, something our Scottish colleagues cannot do legally!
The last market was cancelled at short notice but I have just managed to sell the 80-odd packets produced for that, mostly through the farm shop. Whilst I do worry that the market stall opportunity is going to be lost after my investment in banners, table-tops, chilled display, etc, in some ways I won't miss that pressure and the nights spent in the immediate run up to them butchering and packing. An added complication to this is the now present "fallow gap" until 1 Aug given a fallow makes 3 times my typical roe products. Maybe our Scottish colleagues have a reverse "bonus" with the change in red seasons.
As I've argued elsewhere on here, where is the joined-up strategy needed to increase venison sales? The Government in way of stewardship and forestry grants are promoting greater numbers of deer, paying for chillers and even carcass bounties in some areas but nothing is being done to stimulate appetite for venison amongst consumers. There are some great initiatives out there but unless there are improved outlets for carcasses and product, I cannot see this ever being more than a marginal business. Accordingly, I see the sales I do make as a way of subsidising my stalking whilst allowing me to do my bit to better manage deer numbers in the areas I am fortunate to stalk. I registered as a limited company and my returns have shown a consistent but thankfully reducing loss. Reclaiming input VAT helps, but many others simply wouldn't bear that these costs or graft.
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