Red Deer

[MKG]

Anybody out there raising Red Deer? We have a small herd, and would love to hear from you if you do - or are interested. Our cervid website is www.redstagacres.com . We also have a few deer pictures on our poultry website, http://redstagacres.webs.com .

[Patrick]

No, but came close once. A friend has a huge herd, and he almost talked me into them. Then CWD hit, and all movement was stopped for a while. Just as well, as Fallow are really more my cup of tea. Not as efficient meat producers as the reds, but I'm not going into the venison business either. I have to like what I'm looking at everyday out in the field, while it's growing. Even if it isn't as cost effective, there are other considerations too.

[MKG]

Good to hear from you Patrick. We really strongly considered going the fallow deer route; my wife favored them actually. They certainly offer more variety in color and I like that about them. But we decided early on we were going into the venison meat business, targeting the high end restaurant market for the most part. And yes, we got in just BEFORE CWD hit, and it has definitely made life more complicated and more expensive to operate. But we really like the red deer and have few regrets. Thanks for your message; I always enjoy reading your thoughts on the poultry forum.

[Patrick]

No one could argue with your decision, if trying to make it economicaly feasible is your goal. Plus you have the velvet, but last I heard, that market has crashed too?
If you ever get out this way, be sure to visit Henry Ahern at Bonnie Brae. Nice operation.

[Oregon Swedes]

No red deer, but I've had Scottish Deerhounds, so that makes us sort of back door cousins.

The Red Deer in Scotland are raised loose on the grouse moors and then hunters pay huge money to go out and shoot them.

I've not seen the deer hunted, but the grouse and pheasant hunts consist of a line of hunters that lounge around waiting while a line of beaters walk down the hill and drive the birds to them. The gun dogs just sleep until all the shooting is over and then they are sent out to retrieve the fallen birds. It certainly is a different attitude about hunting.

[Mary]

What is CWD? A disease, economic event or something else? I'm out of the loop on deer. All of them in my area are wild and jump our fences to browse on our trees and bushes. Apple trees in fruit are a favorite. We have western American Mule Deer. Good eating when you can get a license for close enough to home that you don't spend more than the meat is worth to hunt it.

[Altair]

CWD=Chronic Wasting Disease. It's similar but not identical to Mad Cow Disease and Scrapie, all believed to be caused at least in part to a prion, or sort of mutant protein. There isn't a cure and it is contagious. Animals have been killed if they're even suspected to have it.

[Mary]

Thank you. It is one of those things I should have known. Just not around the terminology enough to remember the abbreviations.

[Altair]

Not a problem at all, I even had to refresh myself on its info.