Shoot more Deer !

[Dan Newcombe]

Quite possibly. But it didn't help that's for sure. Even my guides who work with me were refused by their constabulary, as it was not their main employment.

We were other way - forestry protection was classed as necessary so we just cracked on and had a belting do at it, even picked up some contracts because the English travellers couldn’t do it.

 

[David Barker]

I should imagine that any young person setting themselves up as a self-employed wildlife management contractor would be eligible for various business startup grants towards the cost of essential equipment.

Likewise, anyone registering as a food business to process and sell venison needs to look into what funding is available in their area. A local government grant covered a significant proportion of the cost of my larder and butchery unit.

VSS i am not talking about registering as a food buisness i am talking a chill area that would be run the same as the Chill faciltys on the fancy nature reserves up north. If the government want the deer number down they are going to stop playing at support and support the ones that can and would make a difference.

 

[VSS]

VSS i am not talking about registering as a food buisness i am talking a chill area that would be run the same as the Chill faciltys on the fancy nature reserves up north. If the government want the deer number down they are going to stop playing at support and support the ones that can and would make a difference.

Yes, I know. I was just using that as an example.
(But I guess whoever was running the larder would need to register as a food business, wouldn't they?)

 

[David Barker]

Yes, I know. I was just using that as an example.
(But I guess whoever was running the larder would need to register as a food business, wouldn't they?)

The talk is to set up the cill area like a FLS chill and try that for a year or so as a pilot. Then add to it if there is real quantity and local source venison is wanted by local out lets. This is the problem as the local outlets that use venison all purchase it at top price from Highland game. He Christian Nyssen is one of the decision makers. Not a great start for independents. I am sure government will come up with a good idea look at all the good ideas they have come up with so far.

 

[VSS]

The talk is to set up the cill area like a FLS chill and try that for a year or so as a pilot. Then add to it if there is real quantity and local source venison is wanted by local out lets. This is the problem as the local outlets that use venison all purchase it at top price from Highland game. He Christian Nyssen is one of the decision makers. Not a great start for independents. I am sure government will come up with a good idea look at all the good ideas they have come up with so far.

The same Highland Game that's had so much input into devising the new British Wild Venison Assurance Scheme that excludes small scale producer/processors....?

Well ain't that a funny thing.....!?!

 

[rms364]

Only my second post so go gentle

There is no doubt we are in a situation of our own making, the deer need to be shot end of and there is no pretty way of going about it.

In my personal opinion, night shooting should be legal and no closed seasons, those who can’t stomach it make way for those who can, CD carcasses either dumped or buried may need to happen and people need to stop worrying about how much the dealer rate is.

The canvas needs to be cleared or reduced to maintainable levels.

As for carcasses, well brexit ballsed that up, I remember the days when there was always an artic trailer at the dealers being loaded for export.

How come since brexit, the lamb trade has gone through the roof and at an all time high all driven by export. Perhaps one good thing that could come out of the deer assurance scheme will be export marketing?? We do it so well with our other red meats from this little isle….

 

[south-nofolk-stalker]

6 cases of beer there, gifts and barter is the way to do business.

 

[VSS]

How come since brexit, the lamb trade has gone through the roof and at an all time high all driven by export. Perhaps one good thing that could come out of the deer assurance scheme will be export marketing?? We do it so well with our other red meats from this little isle….

Other red meats get a huge amount of government promotion, funded by farmers paying a compulsory levy on every animal slaughtered.
Perhaps you're suggesting that stalkers should pay a levy on every animal they shoot?

 

[south-nofolk-stalker]

The same Highland Game that's had so much input into devising the new British Wild Venison Assurance Scheme that excludes small scale producer/processors....?

Well ain't that a funny thing.....!?!

That is a subject that got me banned last time, I’m not going there again.

 

[VSS]

That is a subject that got me banned last time, I’m not going there again.

Chicken!

 

[south-nofolk-stalker]

Chicken!

Far more profitable and less work

 

[devon deer stalker]

The same Highland Game that's had so much input into devising the new British Wild Venison Assurance Scheme that excludes small scale producer/processors....?

Well ain't that a funny thing.....!?!

Isn't it strange I asked some direct questions on the 'webinar' that I would be assured would be answered by email from David Hooton and given many excuses by @Alastair Boston on Hootons behalf.
I think we have to assume it is dead in the water.

 

[nun_hunter]

Yes we all know that. But the pandemic only created more of a problem. Little was shot for most of the winter months, so several months deer had a free range, which left a lot of catching up.

To be fair the government was pretty clear that you could go out and continue either work or exercise during COVID, even during the most severe lockdowns.

The problem was people getting so worked up about it that they couldn't make a decision for themselves to go out stalking as their exercise or work and so called the FLDs or the local police station for advice. The advice was "buggered if I know but best be safe and stay at home". Those who didn't just get on with have only themselves to blame.

Half were on here daily moaning that they could take the dog for a walk in the countryside but not take their rifle along too rather than just getting on with it

If professionals couldn't take or find clients to go out with them they could still have been out there shooting themselves. If people foresaw the issue of no stalking over the doe season because the game dealers weren't taking deer then they were just thinking of money in their pocket and hoping to catch up later rather than meeting their targets.

 

[AGR]

I wasn't allowed to stalk by the landowner. He couldn't stop the footpaths being used but didn't want me carrying covid round the woods!!

 

[25 Sharps]

Agricultural pest control was also essential work. So that covered deer management.
I was driving 60 miles to my stalking ground regularly throught the lockdown period.

I was out on pigeons, rabbits and deer as crop protection was essential as far as I was concerned.

Called 101 and got a log number each and every time I was out, in case I was challenged , I never was though I passed the police a lot as HQ is in my home town.

 

[User00047]

To be fair the government was pretty clear that you could go out and continue either work or exercise during COVID, even during the most severe lockdowns.

The problem was people getting so worked up about it that they couldn't make a decision for themselves to go out stalking as their exercise or work and so called the FLDs or the local police station for advice. The advice was "buggered if I know but best be safe and stay at home". Those who didn't just get on with have only themselves to blame.

Half were on here daily moaning that they could take the dog for a walk in the countryside but not take their rifle along too rather than just getting on with it

If professionals couldn't take or find clients to go out with them they could still have been out there shooting themselves. If people foresaw the issue of no stalking over the doe season because the game dealers weren't taking deer then they were just thinking of money in their pocket and hoping to catch up later rather than meeting their targets.

What’s this?
People didn’t go stalking in case they catch COVID?
I did nothing different to what I normally would do. I’m still alive today so it worked for me

 

[nun_hunter]

What’s this?
People didn’t go stalking in case they catch COVID?
I did nothing different to what I normally would do. I’m still alive today so it worked for me

People knew they wouldn't catch COVID but aren't able to interpret things for themselves and need it spelling out so either didn't go out just to be on the safe side of the law or called the police to ask.

The police having the same advice from the government as the public so some said stay at home and some said go stalking, most errrd on the side of caution and said stay at home.

What didn't help was the admin of places like Giving Up The Game on Facebook took it upon themselves to decide that no one should be stalking and so stopped allowing anyone to offer game meat during the lockdown.

 

[JTO]

What’s this?
People didn’t go stalking in case they catch COVID?
I did nothing different to what I normally would do. I’m still alive today so it worked for me

Me too!

 

[big ears]

To be fair the government was pretty clear that you could go out and continue either work or exercise during COVID, even during the most severe lockdowns.

The problem was people getting so worked up about it that they couldn't make a decision for themselves to go out stalking as their exercise or work and so called the FLDs or the local police station for advice. The advice was "buggered if I know but best be safe and stay at home". Those who didn't just get on with have only themselves to blame.

Half were on here daily moaning that they could take the dog for a walk in the countryside but not take their rifle along too rather than just getting on with it

If professionals couldn't take or find clients to go out with them they could still have been out there shooting themselves. If people foresaw the issue of no stalking over the doe season because the game dealers weren't taking deer then they were just thinking of money in their pocket and hoping to catch up later rather than meeting their targets.

Agree with what you were saying but here in SW the police were pulling people over and asking why they were out driving. I had a letter in my car saying I could drive.
It did put a lot off.

 

[big ears]

People knew they wouldn't catch COVID but aren't able to interpret things for themselves and need it spelling out so either didn't go out just to be on the safe side of the law or called the police to ask.

The police having the same advice from the government as the public so some said stay at home and some said go stalking, most errrd on the side of caution and said stay at home.

What didn't help was the admin of places like Giving Up The Game on Facebook took it upon themselves to decide that no one should be stalking and so stopped allowing anyone to offer game meat during the lockdown.

It was unprecedented times and people were scared.
Looking at everything retrospectively is never clear.

You are right but at the time it was a difficult call for some.