Responsible Deer Management

Forest To Fork provides a professional, reliable and discrete deer management service.

Working closely with land owners and managers, annual deer cull targets are agreed in order to protect their interests.

This can include the preparation of a Deer Management Plan, habitat damage assessments and deer population modelling to help inform any decision making.

Deer management operations are undertaken in a safe and humane manner by trained and experienced stalkers in order to maintain high welfare standards and hygienic carcass handling at all times.

Find out more over on the Deer Management Qualification website, Scottish Quality Wild Venison website, and the NatureScot Best Practice guides.

Forest to Fork provides an affordable alternative to employing a full-time keeper and investing in infrastructure which may not be viable on a smaller property. If you are looking for someone to undertake deer management or to provide accompanied stalking when you or your guests are staying, then Forest to Fork can offer a service to fit your requirements.

Should it be required, carcasses can be transported to Forest to Fork’s approved deer larder for preparation before being delivered to the venison dealer.

Where proactive deer control measures are required in order to protect forestry, agricultural crops or priority habitats, a more targeted approach can be provided. This can include the use of Night Shooting and Out of Season authorisations, where considered appropriate by NatureScot.

Deer damage and population assessments can be arranged in order to inform appropriate cull targets. The use of new technology including a drone and thermal imagery helps provide the most accurate and up to date information available.

Forest to Fork can prepare Deer Management Plans to suit individual circumstances. A working Deer Management Plan is a helpful document to monitor progress and to generate discussion.

Deer density assessments and habitat damage monitoring can be undertaken in support of the Deer Management Plan.

Advice can also be provided for deer larder design and establishing a venison outlet. This can include applying for a Venison Dealer’s Licence, consultation with the local authority Environmental Health Officer, larder hygiene requirements and developing a Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point (HACCP).