Deer Management Plan

[DevonRifle]

I stalk a private wood and the owner applies for grants on the woodland. He has asked for just three Roe to be taken each year and sometimes comes with me when I point out the evidence of large numbers and the damage. He has now asked that I shoot more but has asked that I produce a Deer Management Plan for his grant application. I have never done this before, can anyone give me some pointers?

 

[weblyish]

The deer initiative have a template along with some further info

The Deer Initiative | Deer Management

thedeerinitiative.co.uk

Also the government website on WS1 is fairly clear about what you need when it needs to be submitted and has templates and guides
https://webarchive.nationalarchives...must-send-the-following-with-your-application

(The gov.uk link now redirects to an archive version. I'm not sure why but you may need to check it is the latest version)

 

[weblyish]

The deer initiative have a template along with some further info

The Deer Initiative | Deer Management

thedeerinitiative.co.uk

Also the government website on WS1 is fairly clear about what you need when it needs to be submitted and has templates and guides
https://webarchive.nationalarchives...must-send-the-following-with-your-application

(The gov.uk link now redirects to an archive version. I'm not sure why but you may need to check it is the latest version)

Actual template here

The Deer Initiative | Associated Information

thedeerinitiative.co.uk

Also love them or loath them the shooting & hunting academy have an online course (165 quid) in woodland mammal impact assessment which I'm going through now and is really quite good

The Woodland Mammal Damage & Impact Assessment Course

A certificated LANTRA award that covers everything you need to know about WS1 and WS3 grants.

www.shootingandhuntingacademy.co.uk

 

[DevonRifle]

Actual template here

The Deer Initiative | Associated Information

thedeerinitiative.co.uk

Also love them or loath them the shooting & hunting academy have an online course (165 quid) in woodland mammal impact assessment which I'm going through now and is really quite good

The Woodland Mammal Damage & Impact Assessment Course

A certificated LANTRA award that covers everything you need to know about WS1 and WS3 grants.

www.shootingandhuntingacademy.co.uk

You are a gentleman and a scholar! Thank you.

 

[Home Loader]

@DevonRifle If your landowner is applying for woodland management grants you will probably be better off using the Forestry Commission template (PA7) not the deer initiative one

 

[ABL]

So he will now be paid for you to shoot his deer - has he indicated any return that yiu will get from this new arrangement?

 

[Grannysmith]

Oh come on!

 

[muddy42]

So he will now be paid for you to shoot his deer - has he indicated any return that yiu will get from this new arrangement?

and the OP is going to increase his cull / sport / venison many many times!

 

[ABL]

Oh come on!

Doesn’t pay to undervalue what you do - but each to their own.

 

[W1LL]

CervusUK did a video on how to complete one

 

[Grannysmith]

I suppose the farmer could not take the grant payment but charge you for the stalking...

 

[Donkey Basher]

Have a read of this, there’s more to it than just submitting a deer management plan - you’ll need to keep records of your activity for proof the plan is being implemented & to record your cull figures as well as unsuccessful stalks.

management requirements for deer control woodland supplement (WS1)

www.gov.uk

 

[Bugsy]

So he will now be paid for you to shoot his deer - has he indicated any return that yiu will get from this new arrangement?

If he gets to keep the deer and will be able to shoot more in the future surely that’s good enough nowadays ..

 

[rutland]

Under these woodland grants you are expected to do 3 hrs of stalking per ha per year. You will have to complete the application on the forestry commission template. You have to show how you expect to complete the hours ie if you have 200ha of woodland you will be expected to do at least 600 stalking hours. The landowner gets paid per ha. It’s entirely upto him if he pays you or not. I have some really loyal owners who I’ve helped get this scheme and we get paid very well for making sure the grant requirements are fulfilled. Beware though as there are some that will try to exploit you. Stand your ground as this is where recreational stalking ends and it becomes a job so you should get paid. It has worked well for us. But once you take it on it’s a big commitment. There is a saying that going out to shoot deer because you want to is totally different to going out to shoot deer because you have to and it’s very true

 

[VSS]

If he gets to keep the deer and will be able to shoot more in the future surely that’s good enough nowadays ..

No, it's not good enough.
If the landowner is receiving funding on the strength of carrying out deer management, then the deer manager needs to be paid.

 

[Bugsy]

No, it's not good enough.
If the landowner is receiving funding on the strength of carrying out deer management, then the deer manager needs to be paid.

Is he a contractor .. is he deer stalking in his spare time and as a hobby surely both party’s would be happy with an arrangement where the stalker gets free stalking and takes the deer for himself .. I would be very happy with that

 

[VSS]

Is he a contractor .. is he deer stalking in his spare time and as a hobby surely both party’s would be happy with an arrangement where the stalker gets free stalking and takes the deer for himself .. I would be very happy with that

I'm sure you would be, initially.
But what about when you find yourself having to cancel other engagements in order to satisfy your contractual obligations to the landowner?
And what about when you're obliged to shoot a lot more deer than you have an outlet for?
And what about when you have to rearrange your schedule in order to have on-site meetings, during working hours on weekdays, with representatives from defra, natural England, etc?
It won't feel so much like a hobby then.

 

[rutland]

What Tim says above is all true. When you first start out or have the chance of ground of your own it’s very easy to get tunnel vision and think yes I’ll do that. But actually the reality of it is it’s a job and as such you need payment. Once you start operating under these schemes and your proven it does open up further opportunities

 

[Bugsy]

QUOTE="rutland, post: 3334424, member: 13168"]
What Tim says above is all true. When you first start out or have the chance of ground of your own it’s very easy to get tunnel vision and think yes I’ll do that. But actually the reality of it is it’s a job and as such you need payment. Once you start operating under these schemes and your proven it does open up further opportunities
[/QUOTE]
All I’m suggesting is think before you leap , there are plenty of guys out there who WILL do it for nothing . If it’s a big woodland area with new plantations then your hands are tied but I look after 3 smallish woods and manage them without to much hassle at weekends and each produce 50 each , depends on the area of woodland .

 

[Chris Richardson]

I'm sure you would be, initially.
But what about when you find yourself having to cancel other engagements in order to satisfy your contractual obligations to the landowner?
And what about when you're obliged to shoot a lot more deer than you have an outlet for?
And what about when you have to rearrange your schedule in order to have on-site meetings, during working hours on weekdays, with representatives from defra, natural England, etc?
It won't feel so much like a hobby then.

This 100 % it takes over your life , the amount of lads I’ve taken out then say oh my freezers full I’m not bothered, my landowners couldn’t give a rats @ss if my freezers full they want the job done