Venison Prices

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Ok, so you want to know why culling my park deer is different, and why I have made the personal decision as to why I think my park headshots are ethical, despite my reservations about wild headshots? Note: every shot for every stalker is a personal decision. No one else can make the decision for you.
I don't expect to change your opinion, just as you are unlikely to change my opinion on neck shots, but I do hope it'll make you a bit less judgemental.

Firstly, I am under no pressure. I haven't driven 200 miles to my ground, and this is the only opportunity that presents itself at the end of a blank day (which I think is probably the reason why most messed-up head shots are taken). In the park, if the perfect shot doesn't present itself, I can just walk away. Go and do something else for an hour or two. The deer will still be there later.

Secondly, it is easy for me to take whatever aids to accuracy I might need into the park, as it's not far to carry stuff. Sticks, tripod, whatever. There's no risk of having left something in the pickup and not having it available when I need it.

Thirdly, choice of rifle. Much as I love my hard-hitting .270, I know it isn't my most accurate rifle. It's great for chest shooting where there's more margin for error, and I need the additional clout to punch through ribs etc, but for the headshots in the park I can use a smaller calibre more accurate rifle for headshots, as I'm not going to be chest shooting anything.

Thirdly, bullet choice. I use a lightweight (58 grain) very fast (almost 4000 fps) extremely destructive bullet. It would be eminently unsuitable for chest shooting, but the very flat trajectory (when compared to a heavier, slower, bigger calibre bullet) gives me the accuracy I need, and the destructive design gives a small, but nonetheless significant, margin for error.

Fourthly, range is limited to sensible distances by virtue of the fact that it's a small area, so there is zero temptation to take shots at extended ranges.

Fifthly, in the unlikely event that something goes wrong, there is zero risk of losing the animal. Follow up is immediate.

Sixthly, headshooting the deer I want causes considerably less stress to the rest of the herd (which, as someone who works with livestock, I'm sure you'll agree is a very important consideration).

Thank you that’s appreciated

 

[Sol]

Deer suffer with being hut in the lungs too.

As a tracker I'd have to image a large majority of phone calls were about jaw shot deer, right? Because everyone head shooting, knows for the most part they've messed a shot up.
Lung shots on the other hand, a lot of people are very quick too say they've missed when they've actually taken the brisket out or shot the upper spine out on the animal the animal still suffers and dies and no one knows.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was an actual study done the injury rates of a head shot deer Is much lower, sensible people doing headshots are doing everything in there means to bring the animal down instantly.
Everyone chest shooting deer are looking for hit reactions, and wobbling If there's none of that they assume they've missed, people that also do chest shots because there not confident on shooting the head also usually have much lower accuracy.
(yes I'm guilty of this, actually, still 1mo on targets but... targets and deer arent the same)

I'm guilty of it I shot a roe doe and as I shot my sticks slipped downwards so the gun went upwards, I thought I missed my mate said the deer didnt jump the wall and I believed him, que a month later one of the syndicate members came across my dead deer up against the other side of the wall. (although, too be fair the rushes here could literally cover an entire red stag, antlers and all) but still, I was convinced I missed

For context we did go back the following day with the lab but zero blood, and no scent was picked up.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Deer suffer with being hut in the lungs too.

As a tracker I'd have to image a large majority of phone calls were about jaw shot deer, right? Because everyone head shooting, knows for the most part they've messed a shot up.
Lung shots on the other hand, a lot of people are very quick too say they've missed when they've actually taken the brisket out or shot the upper spine out on the animal the animal still suffers and dies and no one knows.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was an actual study done the injury rates of a head shot deer Is much lower, sensible people doing headshots are doing everything in there means to bring the animal down instantly.
Everyone chest shooting deer are looking for hit reactions, and wobbling If there's none of that they assume they've missed, people that also do chest shots because there not confident on shooting the head also usually have much lower accuracy.
(yes I'm guilty of this, actually, still 1mo on targets but... targets and deer arent the same)

I'm guilty of it I shot a roe doe and as I shot my sticks slipped downwards so the gun went upwards, I thought I missed my mate said the deer didnt jump the wall and I believed him, que a month later one of the syndicate members came across my dead deer up against the other side of the wall. (although, too be fair the rushes here could literally cover an entire red stag, antlers and all) but still, I was convinced I missed

For context we did go back the following day with the lab but zero blood, and no scent was picked up.

85% of my tracks were head shots the other 15% difficult leg shots withe the animal pushed on all because people cannot do as they’re told and leave animals alone in the event of a cock up

 

[Sol]

85% of my tracks were head shots the other 15% difficult leg shots withe the animal pushed on all because people cannot do as they’re told and leave animals alone in the event of a cock up

Kind of what I assumed, I would imagine a very large majority of those 15% of leg shots (or as I mentioned, high spine) are never actually rung up about, because the shooter is under the impression he's actually missed the animal.

I'm curious on average how many jobs were you doing per year roughly? (I'd guess 100+?)

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Kind of what I assumed, I would imagine a very large majority of those 15% of leg shots (or as I mentioned, high spine) are never actually rung up about, because the shooter is under the impression he's actually missed the animal.

I'm curious on average how many jobs were you doing per year roughly? (I'd guess 100+?)

Long haul about 5 a year (100 miles plus from Norfolk), furthest scotch corner.
Medium 5 (50-60 miles)
Local 10-15 (10-35 miles)

No where as many as you would think, you only got the call after they had exhausted all other options and right proper fecked the track right up!

Knowing what I know now, 15 or more years on, tracking callouts are pointless, the law doesn’t support it, stalkers don’t listen, and the biggest problem of all are boundaries!

They call you out to create miracles nothing more nothing less, if you want my honest advice train your dog use it yourself help your friends out and bollocks to the rest

 

[Bugsy]

It would probably surprise us the amount of deer that have been shot , showed not much or any reaction to ran off and the hunter presume “ how did I miss that “ . I’ve seen it happen a few times and always followed up with Dug and found the deer stone dead and a clean shot .

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

It would probably surprise us the amount of deer that have been shot , showed not much or any reaction to ran off and the hunter presume “ how did I miss that “ . I’ve seen it happen a few times and always followed up with Dug and found the deer stone dead and a clean shot .

That happens more than you actually think

 

[Keith Edmunds]

I agree, in part, I have seen some horrendously gralloched/shot carcass's in my local game dealer.
But I strongly disagree regarding this fairly new 'fad' of head shooting.
It has it's place in a fenced area, but not in the wild.
Think of the welfare of the deer and not the £ in your pocket!
Just take a step back for a minute, would you like a fairly quick death by a well placed chest shot, or die of starvation whilst in terrible pain?
I know you will never agree as we have been down this road before, all I ask is you think about it a little more if you shoot deer in the wild

As someone who stalked from 1995 to 2009 but then had a break until 2020 - It really is surprising how some things changed during that period. Of course thermals came onto the scene, I was a bit of a dinosaur and didn't even have a sound moderator during my first period, never mind a thermal.
A big change for me was probably the taking of longer shots and head shooting. Regarding taking shots over longer distance, I used to regard 150m as a reasonably long shot, now it's pretty standard - do take into account that I was only using 4x32 and 4x40 scopes initially. However, we were very much taught that head shooting was a big NO-NO. Now it is common practice.........probably because of game dealer pricing. Perhaps we are better shots now? More home-loading - better quality scopes? But.....The deer haven't changed and they still move their heads just as much.

Apologies for slightly off topic.

 

[griff]

You get exactly the same price for this shot placement as you would for a head shot..
Alter the angle of the shot and that's where the deductions come into play..View attachment 431319

The basic price is calculated on this shot as the majority of shooters place it there, wouldn't be my POA but thats my choice. Dealers mitigate damage by a low price and the quality of carcass, if everyone shot them in the head then the price would go up.

 

[nun_hunter]

You get exactly the same price for this shot placement as you would for a head shot..
Alter the angle of the shot and that's where the deductions come into play..View attachment 431319

You'd get 20% less per kg at the game dealer I use for that shot placement compared to a head or high neck. It's up to the stalker what shot they take. A wounded deer that runs off is worth £0/kg though

 

[Sheamus]

The basic price is calculated on this shot as the majority of shooters place it there, wouldn't be my POA but thats my choice. Dealers mitigate damage by a low price and the quality of carcass, if everyone shot them in the head then the price would go up.

As your probably aware Griff when things get hectic after a good stir.
My common sense tells me to whack as many as possible through the ribs.
But the start of any good ambush I like the money shots.
I don't agree with your ideology regarding price rise for money shots though.
Low prices are here to stay especially with how large the population of the herd species are here in the uk. Good luck with your chosen shot placements

 

[VSS]

As your probably aware Griff when things get hectic after a good stir.
My common sense tells me to whack as many as possible through the ribs.
But the start of any good ambush I like the money shots.
I don't agree with your ideology regarding price rise for money shots though.
Low prices are here to stay especially with how large the population of the herd species are here in the uk. Good luck with your chosen shot placements View attachment 432025

Just out of curiosity, I see that the optical device that you're viewing that through (riflescope, presumably?) is giving quite a lot of info without cluttering your sight picture, which is nice. There's something in the top right corner that's half cropped off. Is that range? Looks like it, but I can't quite make it out.
Also, what looks like an inclinometre at the bottom? Presumably to eliminate cant? Is that the same info duplicated half way up the right hand side, and if so for what purpose?

 

[Grand Slam]

Just out of curiosity, I see that the optical device that you're viewing that through (riflescope, presumably?) is giving quite a lot of info without cluttering your sight picture, which is nice. There's something in the top right corner that's half cropped off. Is that range? Looks like it, but I can't quite make it out.
Also, what looks like an inclinometre at the bottom? Presumably to eliminate cant? Is that the same info duplicated half way up the right hand side, and if so for what purpose?

Looks like the Hikmicro Alpex 4k LRF. Top right hand corner displays zeroing profile and ballistic profile being used. With the latest update, the range is now displayed nearer the centre of reticle.
I don’t really pay too much attention to the bottom and right hand read outs. I suppose if you were shooting lots of target at steep gradients then it may come into play. The bottom displays the canting on the rifle. Ideally 0 would be optimum.

 

[weblyish]

Just out of curiosity, I see that the optical device that you're viewing that through (riflescope, presumably?) is giving quite a lot of info without cluttering your sight picture, which is nice. There's something in the top right corner that's half cropped off. Is that range? Looks like it, but I can't quite make it out.
Also, what looks like an inclinometre at the bottom? Presumably to eliminate cant? Is that the same info duplicated half way up the right hand side, and if so for what purpose?

Isn't the bottom one the compass bearing same as you get on habroks

 

[Sheamus]

Just out of curiosity, I see that the optical device that you're viewing that through (riflescope, presumably?) is giving quite a lot of info without cluttering your sight picture, which is nice. There's something in the top right corner that's half cropped off. Is that range? Looks like it, but I can't quite make it out.
Also, what looks like an inclinometre at the bottom? Presumably to eliminate cant? Is that the same info duplicated half way up the right hand side, and if so for what purpose?

Like what Grand Slam says. It's just a digital scope.
Far too complicated for me to explain.

 

[Mike1979]

Just out of curiosity, I see that the optical device that you're viewing that through (riflescope, presumably?) is giving quite a lot of info without cluttering your sight picture, which is nice. There's something in the top right corner that's half cropped off. Is that range? Looks like it, but I can't quite make it out.
Also, what looks like an inclinometre at the bottom? Presumably to eliminate cant? Is that the same info duplicated half way up the right hand side, and if so for what purpose?

One is cant the other is (for ease of explanation) elevation ..so L to R and Up and Down

Fairly quick and easy way of getting the setup level but I dont pay a huge amount of attention most of the time unless I am zeroing the rifle.

 

[Grand Slam]

Just bringing the thread slightly back on topic. I note that most, if not all are unhappy with what that are being offered by the Game Dealers for their carcasses, whether that be shot placement, ammunition used or indeed price.

What I haven't seen is anyone explain what prices they would like to be receiving and how they come to that conclusion. Not looking to start any arguments, just genuinely interested in what people value their carcass / time / effort at.

 

[homer]

Just bringing the thread slightly back on topic. I note that most, if not all are unhappy with what that are being offered by the Game Dealers for their carcasses, whether that be shot placement, ammunition used or indeed price.

What I haven't seen is anyone explain what prices they would like to be receiving and how they come to that conclusion. Not looking to start any arguments, just genuinely interested in what people value their carcass / time / effort at.

I would be happy with what we were getting 30 years ago!
Inflation seems to have worked backwards for venison sales!

 

[takbok]

£70 for 2x 15kg larder weight roe bucks skinned. - I'll take it.

 

[Mike1979]

Just bringing the thread slightly back on topic. I note that most, if not all are unhappy with what that are being offered by the Game Dealers for their carcasses, whether that be shot placement, ammunition used or indeed price.

What I haven't seen is anyone explain what prices they would like to be receiving and how they come to that conclusion. Not looking to start any arguments, just genuinely interested in what people value their carcass / time / effort at.

Its a difficult one all round ...deer are a pest and a commodity to landowners. People pay stupid amounts to get ground to stalk on..deer numbers are the highest ever...people dont want to eat bambi so supply is greater then demand...and on and on it goes. Game dealers are able to exploit this by paying low rates but also have high overheads and if they cant sell it on why should they pay a premium?

Not an easy one...regardless we will all complain about it