WHY USE THE SERVICES OF RECREATIONAL DEER MANAGERS?

We are not financially dependent on creating revenue from the culling of deer so we can spend our time doing what’s effective rather than what’s profitable.

The most effective way to reduce or sustain deer populations is to prioritise the culling of breeding females (Hinds) as each hind will give birth to one or two sika calves a year. Culling breeding males (Stags) has little impact on reducing populations as a single dominant stag can impregnate tens of hinds per year. If a dominant stag is culled there will be a younger animal ready to take his place. A dominant stag will drive out younger stags from his territory, doing so can be beneficial to the ecosystem as there are less animals eating vegetation or damaging trees within the territory.

It is also beneficial to prioritise the culling of injured, ill or deformed animals. Doing so is humane when an animal is suffering and helps reduce the prevalence of any genetic abnormalities in the local population. This is why our logo (affectionally known as “Wonky the Pricket”) depicts a young male sika with deformed antlers rather than a magnificent stag.

Commercial stalking providers (known as guides) charge clients to take them deer stalking and then charge an additional fee for each animal that is culled. Clients will travel across the country or from abroad to cull a large sika stag and pay considerably more to do so than to cull a hind or a smaller, deformed or ill animal. A less reputable commercial stalking guide may be tempted to prioritise the culling of more profitable animals rather than focus on carrying out an effective cull plan throughout the year.

Sika deer are generally deemed to be more difficult to cull than other UK deer species. Wild Sika will not tolerate the presence of humans in their territory. They have a keen sense of smell and hearing and tend to live near cover such as woodland or gorse. When they feel threatened, they make a loud alarm call that alerts any other deer in the area that a potential predator nearby and they all return to cover. If a population is regularly pressured by the presence of humans, they will become nocturnal and only venture out to feed after dark or temporarily relocate to areas where they are not being culled. The topography and prevailing wind direction can make it very challenging to cull sika in certain areas. Visiting these areas is less profitable for a commercial stalking guide as they cannot be certain that they will be able to locate suitable deer to be culled and charge their clients additional fees. A recreational stalker will put the time and effort into familiarising themselves with the area in different weather conditions and at different times of day despite knowing they are unlikely to cull deer every time they go there. This persistent approach will reduce deer numbers over a prolonged period of time, doing so in a challenging area can be very rewarding despite not being profitable.

Most recreational deer stalkers are passionate about managing deer populations. We enjoy all aspects of deer management and being out in the countryside and away from work and other daily pressures of modern life. Many of us live and work in the rural communities that are affected by excessive populations of deer or own land ourselves and have first-hand experience of the damage they cause. We understand the importance of working in a transparent and honest manner and that the priorities and wishes of a landowner must be respected at all times.