Too many wild deer are roaming England’s forests. Can promoting venison to consumers help?

Some people advocate humane deer management: the culling of deer to control their numbers and ensure they don’t overrun forests and farmland in a country where they no longer have natural predators. For these advocates, shooting deer is much more than a sport. It’s a necessity because England's deer population has gotten out of control. There are now more deer in England than at any other time in the last 1,000 years, according to the Forestry Commission, the government department looking after England’s public woodland. That has had a devastating impact on the environment, officials say. Excessive deer foraging damages large areas of woodland including young trees, as well as the habitats of certain birds like robins. Some landowners have lost huge amounts of crops to deer, and overpopulation means that the mammals are more likely to suffer from starvation and disease. Forestry experts and businesses argue that culling the deer—and supplying the meat to consumers—is a double win: It helps rebalance the ecosystem and provides a low-fat, sustainable protein. While venison—a red meat similar to lean beef but with an earthier flavor—is often perceived as a high-end food in the U.K., one charity sees it as an ideal protein for those who can’t afford to buy other meats. “Why not utilize that fantastic meat to feed people in need?” said SJ Hunt, chief executive of The Country Food Trust, which distributes meals made with wild venison to food banks. The government says native wild deer play a role in healthy forest ecosystems, but acknowledges that their population needs managing. It provides some funding for solutions such as building deer fences. But experts like Martin Edwards, a spokesman for the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, believe lethal control is the only effective option, especially after deer populations surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shooting deer is legal but strictly regulated in England. Stalkers must have a license, use certain kinds of firearms, and observe open seasons. They also need a valid reason, such as when a landowner authorizes them to kill the deer when their land is damaged. Hunting deer with packs of dogs is illegal. This article was provided by The Associated Press.