The future of deer culling

Logistical challenges and campaigner pressures cast doubt over the future of deer culling, says James Aris in this article from our membership magazine, My Countryside.

There are more deer in the United Kingdom than at any time since the Norman Conquest, and in many places, densities are far too high. Overgrazing by deer has been having a huge impact on other species, as well as the biodiversity of our environment due to the excessive browsing of vegetation, including shooting shrubs and sapling trees, that must be protected so they grow to soak up carbon and help fight climate change. With a minuscule carbon footprint – and probably the largest variety of environmental benefits of any meat – venison as a food source is hard to argue with. It is packed with protein, zinc and iron, as well as having the added bonus of being good for the climate.

The government seems to be getting the message. After years of the Countryside Alliance campaigning for regulatory change in deer management in England, Defra finally produced a consultation in August this year to seek views on the key proposals to ensure the sustainable management of the deer population and a reduction in the impacts of deer on the natural environment. Within the consultation, grants and incentives to boost the venison market were suggested, as was a review of the licensing system to allow more effective control.

Recently, an NHS trust in Lancashire ran a trial offering wild venison to its patients, with the deer being sourced within 20 miles of the hospital. Great news most would argue, but animal rights extremists PETA, relying on the classic activists' playbook, launched an attack stating that "dumping animal flesh in favour of healthy, hearty and humane vegetables, pulses and tofu would be great news for NHS patients and staff." An interesting comparison, given that the demand for soya protein has resulted in soybean production being one of the most environmentally damaging industries in the world.

But it isn't only ill-informed groups like PETA that threaten the culling of deer. The war in Ukraine, in addition to pushing up food prices here in the UK, has led to ammunition manufacturers in Europe switching production of hunting ammunition to military use; further exacerbating the shortage caused by Covid-19 and the resulting global logistical supply chain issues. With the Scottish Government banning the use of lead ammunition on public land by 2024, one cannot help but wonder how they believe the Scottish deer cull will proceed if hunters are unable to buy alternative bullets.

With attacks being launched from all sides, it is imperative that we, alongside partners such as British Game Assurance, continue to put forward the incontrovertible argument that wild venison is a totally sustainable product and that the more demand there is, the better the planet will be.