Deer Cull in Epping Forest

[Bavarianbrit]

Perhaps there could be a census of the RTA"s and how many drivers were injured/killed in the area as an argument for H&S culling.

 

[T.eddie]

There may be some parallels with the Army Training Estate around Aldershot, which is surrounded by residential areas and has public access in all the non-live fire areas. I used to help manage this estate, and culling went on 365 days of the year (barring March obviously). You'd need to be acutely aware of dog walkers, joggers, doggers, mushroom pickers, and everything in between. There were seldom negative events. Probably due to the control and training of the stalkers.
I'd agree that "Hunting Clubs" in the UK exist only to exploit deer for the profit of a few, and certainly have no place in this type of area.

I think hunting clubs would have a place providing they are managed and run correctly and the stalkers adhere to the correct code of ethics, safety, discipline and management that I'm sure they should have signed up to at the joining stage

Although clubs exploit for profit that's not really different to anyone that is able to offer a stalk for payment so in that sense, majority of people who stalk would profit from a deer.

The main difference being the way in which the animal is treated, as I imagine the majority of clubs would largely only be interested in trophy heads and everything else is second as opposed to a proper management where your looking for the weak, ill or poor conditioned animals.

I find there seems to be an even more negative connotation towards those whole pay to stalk as opposed to those who have the permission etc themselves which is usually transparent on Jews article comments, for some reason the former is seen as more blood thirsty which may be the case for some, but the vasy majority of us who pay have to do so because we have no other way of being able to stalk so if a club is able to offer consistent reliable stalking I don't think that's going to be a bad thing off the bat

 

[Dorset Shakari]

The main difference being the way in which the animal is treated, as I imagine the majority of clubs would largely only be interested in trophy heads and everything else is second as opposed to a proper management where your looking for the weak, ill or poor conditioned animals.

I think you have hit the nail on the head.

Stalking Clubs, with scores of transitory members who may not build up and knowledge of the deer on the area they shoot over. They are just going to shoot what they fancy on the day. Contrast with a deer manager will the aim of maintaining a healthy deer population based upon sustainable numbers and who hasfar more local knowledge, and this was the strength of "Deer Management Groups" who would cover the geographic area of the herd when it was a fashionable topic of debate 30 years ago.

Unfortunately as the pastime flourished, the wrong kind of financial motivation got involved, and we are where we are now: Well runs permissions, jealously guarded, like little islands in a sea of mismanagement. Land owners with no interest, swayed by the buying power of Clubs. Clubs offering decent stalkers shooting rights which are like hen's teeth. Ultimately, money talks and the deer suffer.

 

[T.eddie]

I think you have hit the nail on the head.

Stalking Clubs, with scores of transitory members who may not build up and knowledge of the deer on the area they shoot over. They are just going to shoot what they fancy on the day. Contrast with a deer manager will the aim of maintaining a healthy deer population based upon sustainable numbers and who hasfar more local knowledge, and this was the strength of "Deer Management Groups" who would cover the geographic area of the herd when it was a fashionable topic of debate 30 years ago.

Unfortunately as the pastime flourished, the wrong kind of financial motivation got involved, and we are where we are now: Well runs permissions, jealously guarded, like little islands in a sea of mismanagement. Land owners with no interest, swayed by the buying power of Clubs. Clubs offering decent stalkers shooting rights which are like hen's teeth. Ultimately, money talks and the deer suffer.

Yeah completely agree! Hopefully once people get back to normality and all the spare time currently being filled with stalking gets filled with other things we we see a more respectable stalker return

 

[Redleg]

So after multiple emails to the head keeper regarding managing the deer on the tenants land. He didn't even have the decency to reply.
Fast forward to now . And Talking to a farm manager who's in the know tells me the corporation is now paying 2 stalkers from up north, £42k a year to manage the deer.
Not only that, but the stalkers get to keep the carcasses.
I'm not sure how this came about as I believed that the stalking should have gone out to public tender.
Or is this another job for the boys?

 

[cjm1066]

If disemboweling is clearly objectable able to some, it happens will all slaughtering processes.

I am guessing those who find it objectable will start a campaign to stop post mortems???

 

[cookingfat]

I have had a few calls from this outfit over the years mainly to dispatch fallow that have been hit by cars.
VIDEO:Havering’s Heroes-Harold Hill Deer Aid.
It would seem these fallow get into all sorts of problems!
I met a guy yesterday on a HAD course who was looking at ways of dealing with RTA's in Epping forest.

 

[Redleg]

I have had a few calls from this outfit over the years mainly to dispatch fallow that have been hit by cars.
VIDEO:Havering’s Heroes-Harold Hill Deer Aid.
It would seem these fallow get into all sorts of problems!
I met a guy yesterday on a HAD course who was looking at ways of dealing with RTA's in Epping forest.

The same people who call you to dispatch an RTA, are the ones who call the police everytime they see anyone out legitimately stalking or hear a rifle shot.
More deer more RTAs

 

[Overlay]

Leave it to them to sort easy peasy

The Forest custodians will eventually have to come to a decision on a management plan and with that would be a duty of care for the stalkers it works both ways, even if it means wearing body cameras

No use getting worked up about it, not anyone’s problem until the answer is required and HAS to be Implemented, the powers to be will sort it out and all that has to be done is compliance on the part of the stalker(s)

 

[Roebuck9]

Most original deer forests in East Englandshire seem to have been populated by various kings with Melanistic fallow for some reason. Apparently Rockingham forest Northants were originally black deer, but there being a park or two in the area at some time gives a rainbow effect now.

I believe it was the King of Norway that gave Henry 8th in 1603, the first herd of Melanistic (Norway black native) Fallow that were kept in parks.and they escaped ,as they do, so now are all over the country.

 

[Overlay]

Best black fallow I’ve seen was on a estate Nr the River kent, I think east Cumbria area on a estate parkland area of the main house
True very dark black, from memory the estate guy said they manage the deer to retain a black pelage