Cull before the storm

For decades, the popularity of stalking has been growing but that might not last for ever and deer numbers continue to rise, warns Graham Downing

- Graham Downing

For at least 20 years, deer stalking has been one of the brightest stars in the shooting firmament. Its rise has tracked the steady growth in the range and population of our six native or naturalised deer species and has effectively resulted in the establishment of a new field sport.

Until a few decades ago, mention of deerstalking essentially referred to one thing alone: the pursuit of red deer — particularly stags — in the Scottish Highlands.

In the lowlands of England, a few enthusiasts stalked roe, often drawing on the rich traditions of woodland stalking that had been imported from continental Europe, especially from Germany by returning ex-servicemen.

Fallow, too, were an important sporting quarry in some locations, especially in ancient hunting forests such as Epping or the New Forest, or in the context of large estates that had a long association with park deer. Low-ground stalking, however, was not exactly mainstream. But, then, several things occurred.

Changing policy

From the mid-1980s, the Government switched from support for intensive farming to agri-environment schemes that prompted the planting of thousands of acres of new woodlands and many miles of new hedgerows and conservation field margins.

At the same time, Forestry Commission policy moved away from single-species conifer plantations and towards broadleaved trees, with a focus on wildlife habitat.

The deer said “thank you very much”. With the countryside becoming more wooded and better connected by hedges, spinneys and cover crops, and given the natural fecundity of most deer species, populations burgeoned.