Deer culling and other methods of control

[Hedge Witch]

I was trying to find out exactly how they cull deer. How effective is this as a method of control? And how does this compare with other ways of controlling deer numbers?

The reason I am asking is because I can't decide whether the re-introduction of Lynx would be a good or a bad thing. I would be able to make a more informed decision if I knew a little more about the mechanics of the culling process, whether the meat is sold for food, or wasted, and any other advantages or drawbacks.

I apologise if these questions have already been discussed, but I couldn't find a similar thread.

[JeffH]

The Deer Commission for Scotland site contains some information on the control methods used north of the border - Welcome page of DCS

When I was up on the west coast of Scotland last year I spent a pleasant hour or two at a village hall tea room on the Ardnamurchan peninsula (almost directly opposite Fort William) which was run by a very interesting elderly gentleman who told me he used to work for the Red Deer Commission and had travelled all around the UK working as a marksman and culling deer.

I suspect that shooting is still the primary method of control today.

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers and Barn Owls)

[james bennet]

The National Trust keeprs in the woods near me tend to use deer platforms - wooden seats set on stilts against a tree - to shoot deer from. This not only provides a good line of sight, and ensures that any stray bullets bury harmlessly into the ground, but also deer tend not to look very far above their own eye level so the marksman is quite well hidden. The numbers shot can be quite high - perhaps as much as 25% of the population - although I suspect far less are shot in my woods as the numbers have increased dramatically. Speaking for the national trust deer, the carcass is never wasted, but the meat is sold in local butchers' shops. In fact I've always found it strange that venison is not more widely available in the big supermarkets, when there seems to be no shortage of deer and the meat is delicious and good for you. Incidentally, the deer is gutted in-situ and the innards left for scavengers, which might go some way to explain the high buzzard nuumbers around me!

As far as lynx reintroduction goes, I think our native roe deer (with which they would have evolved) would be more their size, and I wonder if our introduced fallows are a little on the large side for them? They'd certainly take fallow young though.

[Hedge Witch]

Thanks both for the replies.

I never really realised how labour intensive the whole process is, but I'm relieved that the meat is not wasted - and it is extremely good, isn't it James. Good news about the innards too.

25 % is quite a good percentage, higher than I would have expected.

Interesting that the Lynx would probably not take such large prey. Never having come across one, I have no concept of size and ferocity. If they don't take the Fallow, they are probably not any danger to us, I guess? It would be fantastic and fairly thrilling to see one in the wild.

[Pete Collins]

There was an item about culling deer on Countryfile the other week. A coalition of conservationists and other interested parties were talking about raising the number of deer culled each year from 350,000 to 500,000. This higher figure would be about 25% of the total population.

[muldonach]

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

I was trying to find out exactly how they cull deer. How effective is this as a method of control? And how does this compare with other ways of controlling deer numbers?

The reason I am asking is because I can't decide whether the re-introduction of Lynx would be a good or a bad thing. I would be able to make a more informed decision if I knew a little more about the mechanics of the culling process, whether the meat is sold for food, or wasted, and any other advantages or drawbacks.

I apologise if these questions have already been discussed, but I couldn't find a similar thread.

Deer are culled by the use of centrefire rifles, with minimum standards of calibre, bullet weight and muzzle energy varying between England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland but all designed to achieve a reliable clean kill.

Culling is achieved through stalking - essentially getting within effective range of the deer by approaching quietly and unobtrusively up or across the wind. Effective range is difficult to quantify but generally the rifle is better than the shooter and shots at over 200m are unusual with ranges generally somewhat shorter on the smaller species- normally about 100m for roe. As other responders have indicated high seats are also commonly used in suitable ground which is generally "tight" ground (forest firebreaks, wooded valleys etc)

There is no other way to control deer numbers - other than allowing the population to rise unchecked until a spectacular crash ensues. There is interest and research into the use of contraceptives but no realistic prospect of any effective or reliable means of dosing at the moment.

The effectiveness of culling depends entirely upon the effort put in, the key to population control always being the number of females left to breed the following year. Done properly it is very effective unfortunately the lack of a large market for venison means that culling of does / hinds results in a net loss to the estates which conduct female culls consequently the cull may not be as effective as it needs to be.

The re-introduction of lynx is a complete red herring - they are effective predators on small deer(roe and I would imagine muntjac) but farming interests would preclude a release or re-introduction on sufficient scale to have a worthwhile affect on roe recruitment.

Venison is wherever possible sold for food. Unfortunately it is very much a minor product scine it is as far as I know cholesterol free and very very tasty.

Cheers
mac

[Deer Stalker]

As Muldonach says the legislation on Firearms used to cull deer are strict to ensure a clean, humane kill. There is also open & close seasons when you are legally allowed to shoot deer.

On the New Forest & other Forestry Commission districts the culling is carried out by full time Wildlife Rangers (or Keepers as they are known in the New Forest) after a spring census where the deer are counted & a population estimate given. Next seasons cull is worked out from the census.

The carcasses are sold on for human comsumption.

On the New Forest about a third of the population is culled (around 800) every year to keep the population level stable.

I think it would be nice to see Lynx in the countryside, but I don't think they could be relied upon to ruduce & stabalise the countries deer populations on their own.

[JeffH]

Thank you muldonach (Mac) and Deer Stalker for your very informative posts.

It's so refreshing to read factual, unemotive posts from people who clearly know what they're talking about on threads dealing with potentially controversial issues like this one and which can so easily turn into slanging matches between those holding opposing and often over-sensitive views.

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers and Barn Owls)

[kiwi]

I think lynx would be a good idea it will control deer without the need of hunting and it would be a nice edition to the countryside and be an added bonus to the lack of mammalian biodiversity in Britain. As far as i know lynx are quite timid around humans are they not? and will run at the first sign of humans and the same goes with wolves sometimes.

[james bennet]

[/quote] Interesting that the Lynx would probably not take such large prey. Never having come across one, I have no concept of size and ferocity. If they don't take the Fallow, they are probably not any danger to us, I guess? It would be fantastic and fairly thrilling to see one in the wild.[/quote]

I think lynx attacks on humans would be very unlikely; they are rather shy animals. They tend to prey on rabbits, hares, rodents, foxes and roe deer, so from this point of view they would be of benefit in keeping the numbers of these animals down. But as has already been said re-introduction would be all but impossible without the support of a huge array of interest groups - including sheep farmers - most unlikely to give their consent. Happily their future on the continent looks a little more assured and numbers seem to be recovering, to the extent that limited hunting of lynxes is even permitted in certain cases.