Deer Management

[Muddy42]

Yes there are delays in issuing certificates and variations, but the total number of issued FACs has remained at about 150,000 for the past 10 years.

 

Yes some of the bigger public or semi public landowners pay for deer control, but cynically they love p1ssing away money anyway. Privately rates vary, but £750 per annum for stalking over say 400,000 acres and a target to shoot 10-20 deer would be pretty normal. Its more in the South east and near London. Some south east stalking syndicates pay thousands.

[woody paul]

1 hour ago, Muddy42 said:

Yes there are delays in issuing certificates and variations, but the total number of issued FACs has remained at about 150,000 for the past 10 years.

Renewing my certificate at the moment and can't believe how quickly they have responded and asked questions if everything goes well should be all done in 4 weeks from start to finish. A mate of mine has been told 90 days. 

Big syndicates just mess it up for the little man or small groups how just like to get out and see countryside and wildlife and take the odd deer. 

[Mike Hill]

Why do you need a certificate to shoot a deer?

 

Is it not just " look there is a deer I want to shoot,standing in a safe place to shoot it?"

 

BANG!

 

Deer for dinner.

[GarethM]

Well obviously for the bang you'll need the FAC in a suitable caliber, still illegal to use a bow for hunting in the UK.

 

The other certificate is the DSC, but I think that's more for selling it on afterwards.

[Tol73]

Yes the license is to own the firearm in order to shoot the deer. Some qualifications allow

for the carcass to be sold after. You can sell the odd one to a pub but to go into

public food chain like butchers you need to be trained hunter with large game handling.

I don’t pay for any stalking and manage 6 farms covering about 25000 acres.  Its not clearing them out but maintaining the balance, except where the are in fenced areas.

[woody paul]

10 minutes ago, Tol73 said:

You can sell the odd one to a pub

You will find this is food chain as well. 25000 acres on your own or is it a group you run. 

[Steven P]

Curious here - how many deer would typically be in 25,000 acres, 6 farms?

[GarethM]

Guessing a few hundred

[Stubby]

6 hours ago, GarethM said:

Guessing a few hundred

More . Especially if there is attached woodland .

Edited April 15 by Stubby

[Tol73]

12 hours ago, Steven P said:

Curious here - how many deer would typically be in 25,000 acres, 6 farms?

This is where type of ground comes into the situation. Some ground is mixed clear fell and open moorland with very poor grazing and will hold 5-8 roe does in the winter. See less in the summer when the forest rides start producing food. Other areas with arable and pasture can hold a lot more Roe.