deer cull ?

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deer cull ?
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culling options ?

no need to cull here

15%

[ 4 ]

maybe some too many check and act accordingly

50%

[ 13 ]

far too many cull significant numbers

30%

[ 8 ]

pass the mini gun they eat everything green

[ 1 ]

Total Votes : 26

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Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 13 5:58 pm Post subject:

mochyn wrote:

I'd never want badgers to become extinct here, nor a return to baiting, but they should be managed.

I think an awful lot of people who enter into the debate think that culling is a return to baiting. For a predator at the top of the food chain to be protected in this way is surely unsustainable.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 13 6:01 pm Post subject:
Yes. Legal and controlled culling should have nothing to do with baiting which is cruel and just plain wrong.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35058
Location: Devon

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 13 8:47 pm Post subject:

mochyn wrote:

Badgers eat hedgehogs, as Rob says. They also eat the eggs of ground-nesting birds: as a result it's very rarely we see hedgies or any ground-nesting birds here although both were plentiful before badgers were protected. I'd never want badgers to become extinct here, nor a return to baiting, but they should be managed.

This is my view too. I'm not convinced by the whole TB argument, but as with the deer, there is no top predator above them except us.

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18416

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 13 10:20 pm Post subject:
For being in Scotland, there are hardly any round here; a few, seen occasionally. Further up into the hills there are more. But not loads more. Best source of venison locally is the agri college deer farm.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 13 10:58 pm Post subject:
I've struggled to buy venison round here but I know there's plenty of deer about and shot - the venison seems to get shipped out of the area. I've counted 10+ red next to my land and several roe in my few acres. Early morning drives about the place see more deer on the roads than cars. Here's a photo taken this week, she didn't seem bothered as I walked up and down the track next to her.

VM

Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 13 11:58 pm Post subject:
Why not? And why sell it? Why not distribute it to people in need of food - would be much nicer than what's normally available at food banks etc. Some free food for all those poor strivers and skivers. What could be nicer or more vote-winning?

ninat

Joined: 01 Feb 2009
Posts: 606
Location: Scotland

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 13 12:13 am Post subject:
Venison burgers are on the menu for school dinners here (Scottish Highlands).

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 13 8:46 am Post subject:

VM wrote:

Why not? And why sell it? Why not distribute it to people in need of food - would be much nicer than what's normally available at food banks etc.

Because it's not free. A stalker has to buy their rifle, ammo etc, pay for the training they will no doubt need to have, take time to cull the animals, clean & inspect the carcass, get it butchered and then distribute it.

I was going to suggest subsidised training but I'll settle for help coordinating land owners and stalkers in areas where there's a need to increase numbers of deer culled.

VM

Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 13 9:53 am Post subject:

Quote:

Because it's not free.

Wasn't entirely serious! Just meant that if government has decided there has to be a big cull, then should make resources available to ensure that the meat is processed and something useful done with it (e.g. eaten by people who need food - school dinners sounds fine) rather than wasted.

Venison at our farmers' market is farmed rather than wild. Don't know enough about deer to know what I think about farming them. Does it mean feeding them on bought in food like for cattle etc or is it still a relatively sustainable way of producing meat?

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 13 10:10 am Post subject:

VM wrote:

Venison at our farmers' market is farmed rather than wild. Don't know enough about deer to know what I think about farming them. Does it mean feeding them on bought in food like for cattle etc or is it still a relatively sustainable way of producing meat?

The venison at our farmers' market is grass-fed. I don't think he makes enough of it as a marketing thing, myself; it's very nice meat.

Here, we have a large number of red deer on the Quantocks. They are a problem. I wouldn't be without them; but they need managing, though.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15433
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 13 12:12 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

vegplot wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

Why's that? Where and why are badgers a problem (if not TB)?

Some argue the badger population is overly large and the damage now caused is out of proportion to their protected status.

They eat & out compete hedgehogs too much for my liking.

Fair point, I had not thought of that.

I think what is needed is a big picture approach to ecosystem management. It is not rocket science, we just need to decide on our aims. I'd suggest productivity and biodiversity, not necessarily in that order.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 13 1:22 pm Post subject:
The secret is not to take the media seriously.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 13 2:10 pm Post subject:

vegplot wrote:

The secret is not to take the media seriously.

Take nothing seriously.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15433
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 13 2:10 pm Post subject:

vegplot wrote:

The secret is not to take the media seriously.

I thought the secret was in the sauce.

12Bore

Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 9089
Location: Paddling in the Mersey

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 13 5:00 pm Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

vegplot wrote:

The secret is not to take the media seriously.

I thought the secret was in the sauce.

Nope, it's in the coating made from 7 herbs and spices...

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