Culling Contractors Pay?

[Deutsch - Drahthaar]

Hi All,

I would appreciate if anyone could PM me the current rates of pay as a direct deer culling contractor - not employed or sub contractor.

1, Cost paid per animal in Scotland red and roe
2, If any of you guys charge a hourly rate to include supply of all equipment to cull from red to muntjac in England

Many thanks
DD

 

[rem284]

Usually cost per beast. Price varies depending on many things and is usually confidential. As with any type of contract it is an agreement between all parties

 

[mealiejimmy]

I spoke to one contract culler a few months ago and he said he was getting £170 per beast - irrespective of size
He had someone helping him (who had to be paid) and spent a lot of money on fuel driving around the ground he was culling
Also, the time spent back at the larder prepping the carcass to the required standard and completing all the paperwork
He reckoned he need to cull at least 3 beasts a day to make it worth his while

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Dave_45]

£160 a deer was the most recent one I knew of.

Sometimes the constraints upon you just make it not worthwhile at all.

It’s like bricklaying ,you’ll make money in the “on” season and be scraping around in the off or living off what you saved.

Most contractors double hat, fencing , forestry , lorry driver.

 

[@theroedeerguy]

When I started working for a contractor as a stalker in 2001.

I was paid the minimum wage (£4.10) at the time for a 39 hour week.

If I was culling deer in the likes of Rannoch for FLS I had to drive to the digs on a Sunday night.

Monday morning in the woods for first light.

Back to the larder before lunch.

Into woods late afternoon until dark and back with anything to the larder.

Back to the woods with the spotlight after dinner until about 0100hrs, any deer shot dragged to an extraction point and gralloched for collection later that morning.

Back for a quick sleep before repeating the process again by being back in the woods for first light.

It was a relentless cycle with you essentially working for free by Wednesday mornings!

Nonetheless a cracking experience which allowed me to learn good and bad habits that helps me to continue to enjoy anytime I spend involved in deer management.

I have also spent time as a contractor, at that time getting £120 a head.

As others have mentioned, to really enjoy it and make it a sustainable career choice you really benefit from having additional income streams because sometimes your profit margin becomes very tight.

If you fancy it though and can get a foot in the door give it a go. At the very least you’ll come out of it a better deer stalker and enhance your skill set.

 

[Dave_45]

When I started working for a contractor as a stalker in 2001.

I was paid the minimum wage (£4.10) at the time for a 39 hour week.

If I was culling deer in the likes of Rannoch for FLS I had to drive to the digs on a Sunday night.

Monday morning in the woods for first light.

Back to the larder before lunch.

Into woods late afternoon until dark and back with anything to the larder.

Back to the woods with the spotlight after dinner until about 0100hrs, any deer shot dragged to an extraction point and gralloched for collection later that morning.

Back for a quick sleep before repeating the process again by being back in the woods for first light.

It was a relentless cycle with you essentially working for free by Wednesday mornings!

Nonetheless a cracking experience which allowed me to learn good and bad habits that helps me to continue to enjoy anytime I spend involved in deer management.

I have also spent time as a contractor, at that time getting £120 a head.

As others have mentioned, to really enjoy it and make it a sustainable career choice you really benefit from having additional income streams because sometimes your profit margin becomes very tight.

If you fancy it though and can get a foot in the door give it a go. At the very least you’ll come out of it a better deer stalker and enhance your skill set.

Love them or loathe them , the people doing it daily and nightly are very very skilled at their jobs.
They wouldn’t get paid otherwise

 

[sikamalc]

A thankless task, especially in the highlands. Hard work, in all weathers, and in some instances long distances between one area and another.

I can quite easily see a fee of £120 to £170. Some years back it was around £90 to £100 a beast.

 

[Deutsch - Drahthaar]

Thanks for the responses they are greatly appreciated. I was just making sure I'm in the right ballpark.

 

[sy247]

A thankless task, especially in the highlands. Hard work, in all weathers, and in some instances long distances between one area and another.

I can quite easily see a fee of £120 to £170. Some years back it was around £90 to £100 a beast.

I imagine you would need something in that ballpark once all other costs are taken into account

 

[Shootingspark]

Would the contractor also get the fee for the beast from the game dealer, on top of his cull rate? or would this go direct to the forestry etc

 

[baguio]

Would the contractor also get the fee for the beast from the game dealer, on top of his cull rate? or would this go direct to the forestry etc

Depends what the contract says!

 

[@theroedeerguy]

Would the contractor also get the fee for the beast from the game dealer, on top of his cull rate? or would this go direct to the forestry etc

In my experience in Scotland and England with the Forestry Commission as it went then all carcasses go as part of the quality assured venison scheme, hence why you can only use factory copper ammunition and need to be able to present a carcass to the high standards required.
You are also recording shot site data which will be spot checked from time to time.
Many of the vocal folks who criticise contractors have never physically been involved in the process themselves.
Like every industry some practitioners work to a higher standard than others and are more effective but overall if you can make a consistent wage from contract deer management you are working to a high standard producing premium wild venison.

 

[arron]

Also don't forget , once you sign up for a contract of xxx amount of deer culled , you are responsible for hitting the target , regardless of weather etc

 

[Utectok]

My friend was on £83 a deer red or roe he said had to shoot 5 a day to cover costs. Consequently it was a lot of night shooting. I think his boss was skimming a decent amount off the top as he bid for the contract which was quite big. Pretty thankless task

 

[Dave_45]

To do the job right you need pick ups , quads , winches , larder area , rifles , dogs , insurances , courses, ammunition which is expensive being factory copper.
All before you make a bolt.

 

[sy247]

To do the job right you need pick ups , quads , winches , larder area , rifles , dogs , insurances , courses, ammunition which is expensive being factory copper.
All before you make a bolt.

Exactly this

 

[WalkedUp]

Looks a thankless task

 

[sy247]

Looks a thankless task

Yep, that's what I thought