BBC and deer - a refreshingly balanced piece…

[Rafter]

I do suspect a hint of sarcasm here, but I do think it would be enlightening to know just how many of those 37500 are currently active UK deer stalkers.

Taff, J̌on Griffon and myself aren't, so already you're down to 37,497.
The rest of you guys are going to have to step it up a notch.

 

[Klenchblaize]

One life. Live it as you see fit and while every moment permits. You won't be coming back for another bite at the cherry whatever planetary conditions prevail.

K

 

[David Barker]

Time for a poll then…

Q1 - do you actively stalk in the UK?
A1 - Yes / No
Q2 - how many deer do you typically shoot in a 12 month period?
A2 - 1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-100
101-150
150+

Its not really anyone's business. But if some one wants to know how many deer i shoot they will need to pay me W£100 for each one i disclose. On a different note NS do not want to know how many deer we have or how many we cull. I have been managing deer for over 40 years and never once been ask for a cull return. I might add i am known to SG.

 

[Rob-E]

£42.50/kilo is expensive to me and would be to the general population which is the point I'm trying to make (clearly not very well).

Buying venison shouldn't be reserved for the group of people who buy regardless of cost or not interested in the price.

I do know of few folk who give it away for free to those who don't have sufficient income, but this isn't a mass market idea either.

Where's the balance? Where is it being sold along side beef, pork, chicken, in the super markets? If not why not?

Fillet steak in Sainsbury’s ranges from £47-£97.50 per kg at time of writing.

Considering VSS is a solo/small outfit I’d say his prices are more than reasonable considering the prices of one of the countries biggest supermarkets on beef.

 

[Ratel]

I’d wager there’s a pretty wide spectrum of opinions amongst the readership of this forum, but perhaps the mainstream of stated opinion is more narrow. This isn’t always healthy. I’m not sure there’s much to dismiss in the BBC article at all. Apex predators - I’d be pretty confident we will see them here in the UK within

Darting I’m more doubtful about tbh. The cost would be far more than that of culling. But again, if some organisations (membership based conservation bodies most likely) choose to use that approach on their land because their members don’t like killing, sobeit; if could be a part of the solution, if probably only a small one. At the risk of sounding totally sanctimonious, if we want people to understand our values and the true benefits of shooting as part of land management and rural income, then this sector needs to learn to better understand the viewpoints of others as well - and find ways of working with them. If we don’t then are in trouble as the popular numbers are stacked against us.

If darting the chemicals used in normal knock down darts are dangerous to humans.
Whats happens if the deer strays off piste (as Fallow do) and it is shot and enters the food chain. How would the contraceptive dose affect any consumer. Darting would be a disaster.

 

[Rafter]

This is how you control deer - if you're serious about it.

 

[Sheamus]

Had me tits in the sink this morning and to finish things off, an afternoon ambush..