Question on Deer Management

PSE Composites Limited - The next level Rifle Stocks
Keith Edmunds said:
Does the OP state what acreage he has? That is of the essence. I would agree with Norfolk Deer Search that unless you have a very large plot, true management of herding deer is virtually impossible. The 'cooperative,' (working with neighbours) idea is great, in theory.
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100% keith.

If you do not have a large lump of ground in a block, effective, ethical deer management of herd species is practically impossible!
 
Sampo said:
For a recreational stalker, its all that one needs to fill up the freezer and have plenty of chances to go out and stalk within their limited time/ capacity. If its within an hours drive, it would be perfect.
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Call me old fashioned, but even with unlimited time, I could and did spend hours in the pace. When you get to know a plot like the back of your hand, how it changes with the seasons. You still get herding deer 'passing through' but you would never be able to 'manage' them as your sphere of influence is tiny. Even when you've got large plots to go at, it's lovely to have these little gems, proper little oases and game magnets when surrounded by intensive arable and I really hope I find another
 
Does the op state the objectives of the management plan. The neighbours, are they willing to be cooperative. What impact is the current population of deer having on the biodiversity or crops that are needing protection.

My objectives are to protect a forest crop and improve biodiversity over several thousand hectares. Venison and other byproducts are important to offset some of the costs.

Culling females is given priority whenever possible within legal parameters and welfare issues. Second priority culling males.

I hear people saying you don't control a population by shooting males. Well you don't stop them doing damage by not shooting them.
 
Maybe 'management' was the wrong word to use as its a small farm. I am not planning to try to maintain a healthy heard and try to control where they exist. Only want to make sure that the damage caused by deer is mimimal and to shoot as much as possible without geting to a point where none are to be seen. So the current plan is to cull the does starting November and if a mature buck does make itself available, show it to the larder as well. With the current location I am pretty confident that the deer won't disappear and will continue to come as long as there is food while continuing to take a healthy number for meat. Thanks for all the comments so far.
 
The only time I won't shoot males is when it means it's going to detract from shooting females. For example if there is a male with females a few weeks before I can start shooting females.
 
Norfolk Deer Search said:
100% keith.

If you do not have a large lump of ground in a block, effective, ethical deer management of herd species is practically impossible!
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As you well know Lee i stalked and culled a 13500 acre estate for 14years . Took i believe 5-6 showing no mercy on Fishtail Bucks uneven and below ear Pricket's and the same approach to the Red's before the Buck' and Stag's became very good quality and Guess what you are 100% right every time the Buck's and Stag's wandered they got shot you also know i showed no mercy on the doe's but was selective on the hind's . The Fallow doe's kept increasing again you are 100% right those on the surrounding boundary's hardly shot the Doe's . Absolutely soul destroying 14 years of very hard worker only to see the Buck's and Stag's getting hammered when they wander. My policy now if it's in season legal shooting time a safe shot they get shot and as many as i can as i still have ( which i think is important) my quad along with Truck to deal with numbers unfortunately plenty out there can only deal/handle shooting one Deer as it takes them all day to retrieve it.
 
It can be extremely difficult in an area with a large Fallow presence. I tend not to shoot big, strong bucks with good heads, but rather the poorer animals. As an estate, does are our main cull animals. Unfortunately with adjacent land things are different, two sides being recreational deer killers and the third a keeper who takes the big animals for the pennies in his pocket. Very little management there whereas the fourth side is FC and the ranger is a good guy who is selective on the bucks. If someone else wants to kill the "Trophy" beasts that is their right as they have the stalking but I never will unless it's injured. It makes life a little difficult as I do boil over sometimes, especially having to shoot a very fine animal with it's jaw shot off by someone looking to line his pockets. If only one had the control of the whole area it would be much easier to put in proper management of the whole herd.🤬
 
FC Ranger W.M by any chance. I had five good Stag's get pushed off by the hunt . Yep all got shot by some young person who put it all over Facebook look at me I'm a hero 😤😤👎 each year within a few days the Buck's would move to estate from a very large FC wood that W.M controlled and each year they got hammered by the £ killers sickening had a good few heated debates to know effect 😞 like yourself I'd like a £ for every head shot gone wrong I've had to sort out. Sad as it sounds i miss the Stalking/culling but pleased I'm well away from it now
 
stalkerboydy said:
FC Ranger W.M by any chance. I had five good Stag's get pushed off by the hunt . Yep all got shot by some young person who put it all over Facebook look at me I'm a hero 😤😤👎 each year within a few days the Buck's would move to estate from a very large FC wood that W.M controlled and each year they got hammered by the £ killers sickening had a good few heated debates to know effect 😞 like yourself I'd like a £ for every head shot gone wrong I've had to sort out. Sad as it sounds i miss the Stalking/culling but pleased I'm well away from it now
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Got him in one. A sound chap.👍
 
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