Dan Newcombe
Well-Known Member
Doesn’t seem to be an appetite from anyone with a decent set up and capacity unfortunately.
Probably for the reasons as detailed a few times on this thread
Community Larder
- Thread starter Dan Newcombe
- Start date
Probably for the reasons as detailed a few times on this thread
Plitts
Well-Known Member
Dan, this is a great idea that could be replicated through the UK.
As a 'recreational' stalker that didn't have a chiller, if I were to shoot a deer I would have to process it immediately, as local game dealer already had enough supply from those that offer many carcasses.
i could not shoot from Saturday to Monday as the butchers wasn't open if it was warm outside.
I have then got myself a home fridge chiller conversion... it will take 3 CWD or 2 Roe or a pricket fallow (just). this has opened my shooting no end, confident that the carcass will be spoilt.
Having the option of a communal larder with good facilities, which then a game dealer comes and collects would be fantastic.
Pricing sounds about right but will electricty prices on the rise, i guess you will need to keep an eye on that.
Yes, there would be the odd individual that may spoil it by not cleaning after themselves, but you would soon work out who they were and chuck them off.
It would help us 'recreational' stalkers make the leap to maybe 'deer managers'.
As a 'recreational' stalker that didn't have a chiller, if I were to shoot a deer I would have to process it immediately, as local game dealer already had enough supply from those that offer many carcasses.
i could not shoot from Saturday to Monday as the butchers wasn't open if it was warm outside.
I have then got myself a home fridge chiller conversion... it will take 3 CWD or 2 Roe or a pricket fallow (just). this has opened my shooting no end, confident that the carcass will be spoilt.
Having the option of a communal larder with good facilities, which then a game dealer comes and collects would be fantastic.
Pricing sounds about right but will electricty prices on the rise, i guess you will need to keep an eye on that.
Yes, there would be the odd individual that may spoil it by not cleaning after themselves, but you would soon work out who they were and chuck them off.
It would help us 'recreational' stalkers make the leap to maybe 'deer managers'.
I think this would be the way to go, ask users to remove gralloch, h&l, head, feet etc. before arriving at the larder. Most people will already have a way to dispose of this, on the stalking ground if remote and permitted, dog food and/or its easier to secrete into the black bin if in small quantities. Bulk waste disposal would be a nightmare and expensive.
But the whole things going to be expensive and risky. @Dan Newcombe I think you should consider the cost in a simpler way that gets the thing up and running and leaves you as owner/organiser far less exposed financially. I'd forget about annual membership fees and cost per deer etc. Venison revenue should be a direct pass through, unless the member misbehaves then it can be forfeited.
For example if you recon it will cost £10k, allow for £15k of capital to allow for a slush fund for the first year's outgoings. Maybe you can get a grant of £5k? Apologies, just making up numbers here, I do not know if you have buildings already or would get a plug and play unit. Make it abundantly clear to prospective users that unless the cash is raised the thing won't go ahead. So at say 20 members/key holders, they would need to cough up £500 each to get to £10k.
At the end of the year, present the running costs and what is left in the slush fund, forecast what the costs will be next year and ask for each member to cough up 1/20th. You need to think of the process if a member wants to quit or be replaced. Like a shooting syndicate you'd need rules, a constitution and some form of dispute resolution procedure, maybe a local BDS rep or a retired lawyer.
If you are the owner/organiser, it will involve a lot of time, so it wouldn't be unreasonable for you to get free ongoing use. I know some game syndicates operate like this, where one person does most of the keepering.
Just ideas to consider.
Consider an annual Service Charge demand with a percentage set aside in a separate account by way of a Exceptional Expenditure Sinking Fund for plant repairs/replacement.
K
K
Leec6.5
Well-Known Member
I’ve never known a states to do anything for free unless it’s worth while for them
I’m not going to suggest they would only be interested if it’s commercially viable but I do understand the not inconsiderable challenges of de-risking use of any company facility by other than employees.
K
Overlay
Well-Known Member
After the usual molehills have been ironed flat like cost to individuals, maintenance access etc etc, one thing that comes to mind is whether the access to the chiller itself should be for removal of carcases only by process and new arrivals are held in a holding room whereupon the carcases are inspected say first thing in the morning to cater for over night arrivals and last thing at night to allow for a inspection of carcasses by one person responsible for that job to ensure there is a high degree of hygiene and shot assessment/gralloching is up to scratch
sharing a chiller is a brilliant idea, but control is needed, i dont think numerous persons stomping in and out of a chiller with unknown carcasses is or would be achievable to maintain a good standard for the chiller
as said a great idea but with holes
sharing a chiller is a brilliant idea, but control is needed, i dont think numerous persons stomping in and out of a chiller with unknown carcasses is or would be achievable to maintain a good standard for the chiller
as said a great idea but with holes
Dan Newcombe
Well-Known Member
To be honest that sounds a massive headache.
The facility would only be available to people with the relevant game hygiene ticket, it would have their tag and details on it for the dealer the chiller itself wouldn’t be guaranteeing anything, just a central point to collect them - I would certainly not be inspecting anyone else’s carcasses
Overlay
Well-Known Member
Dan
Agree 100%
It would be good if you can state all carcasses are up to scratch but you can bet your bottom dollar someone will put a stick in the spokes of the wheel with a dodgy beast, without control it could be a problem, one persons ok shot deer will be different from someone else's sound beast
I've been in chillers stinking of a green beast, that might be ok for a" in the back of the truck as a goeshomer" but dealers aren't going to pick up possible contaminated carcasses, the smell of green will put them on high alert
Got to run on a standard, to be fair to all
Yep, it would only take one idiot spraying a hose pipe into a green beast (in the vain hope of making it presentable) to spread contamination over all the other carcasses in the vicinity.
Leec6.5
Well-Known Member
That is a very valid point!
Ruby Tuesday 2
Well-Known Member
Excellent idea, the make or break point depends on the stalkers involved, I arrived at our dealers one morning a couple of years ago with a nice red in the truck, only to find I couldn't unload it as the electric winch controls were missing. I rang the office to be told they kept it inside as two had been stolen so far, and they brought it out to me.
Service charge, yes that's the term I was looking for. Yes blocks of flats run on exactly the same principle - you own your flat, and pay a service charge to cover ongoing costs for the communal areas.
Agree. You want the system to be as automated as possible, I'd suggest CCTV. There are really good Building Management Systems now, you can unlock doors, check the lights are off, chiller is on etc.
I think you the problem of the potential for someone to put a spoiled carcass into the chiller can be managed. Firstly by rules. Secondly you'll get pretty quick feedback from the gamedealer. Thirdly a decent rail system and lots of room keeps carcasses apart. Finally offenders just get banned.
What area roughly are you proposing Dan and what sort of grants are available?
There is a hint that grant funding might be available to improve the availability of facilities, though I'm not sure this "Community Larder" idea is what they are thinking of.
2.5 Wild Venison Market
The sustainable management of the deer population can also support the development of
the wild venison market as a carbon-positive healthy meat and a product of sustainable
woodland management. Venison sales are a key part of the deer management cycle and
the revenue can help landowners offset deer management costs.
We are proposing that government support the development of a financially and
environmentally sustainable wild venison supply chain. We are considering making small
grants to contribute to the costs of purchasing and installing the necessary facilities and
equipment, where capital cost are a barrier, facilitating the Great Britain Venison Working
Group, and working with Food Standards Agency and local authorities on regulatory
enablers.
2.5 Wild Venison Market
The sustainable management of the deer population can also support the development of
the wild venison market as a carbon-positive healthy meat and a product of sustainable
woodland management. Venison sales are a key part of the deer management cycle and
the revenue can help landowners offset deer management costs.
We are proposing that government support the development of a financially and
environmentally sustainable wild venison supply chain. We are considering making small
grants to contribute to the costs of purchasing and installing the necessary facilities and
equipment, where capital cost are a barrier, facilitating the Great Britain Venison Working
Group, and working with Food Standards Agency and local authorities on regulatory
enablers.
Wonder what they mean by a “small grant”? As in what percentage of £30K? And before anyone shouts “£30K?!?” please consider:
a. Larder container/structure and all ancillary AC equipment.
b. Delivery & transportation.
c. Planning & Building Control.
d. Ground works including power, DCWS and drainage.
e. Installation
K
Last edited:
Leec6.5
Well-Known Member
To do a proper job of it £30k is not enough!
Indeed. Up in Northumberland (a desert for AGHES), a butcher/farm shop type operation had the bright idea of setting up an AGHE to supply them with more venison, and as a service for the perceived amount of local and not so local hunters, including those in the Scottish Borders. They crowd-funded it.
Not sure how well that has worked out though. TBH Northumberland is a bit of a deer desert, nought but roe, and most of those in Kielder, which are managed by the FC.
For the Love of Game
Homepage - Hadrians Game Larder
HADRIAN’S Game Larder
We are currently closed and unable to fulfil orders due to a lack of supply of our main game meat and ingredients. Please contact us if you have any questions or if we can help you further.
Similar threads
