Deer Surveys and Management for Land Agents and Forestry Consultants
If you manage land, woodland, or grant applications for clients across Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, East Lancashire, South Durham, and Teesside, Donaldson Deer Service gives you a free, reliable deer survey and count to put in front of them, and free culling to a plan where it's needed. You keep the client relationship and the paperwork. The day-to-day is arranged between Chris and the landowner, with the record of the work sent to you in whatever format you use.
Or call Chris on 07397 942663. He'll call you back the same day.
Working with you
What your clients get, and what you get
What your client gets
A free walk round the land, trail cameras where they help, and dawn and dusk counts with binoculars and thermal. The result is a plain-language summary: which species are there, roughly how many, the routes they use, and the damage they're doing. Where numbers need bringing down, culling is carried out to a plan the owner has agreed, free of charge.
What you get
Deer evidence you can put in front of a client or into a scheme, and a record of the work as it happens: outings, dates, and deer taken, in your template, by shared drive, shared document, or email update, whichever you already use. The day-to-day of when and where stays between Chris and the landowner, so it doesn't land on your desk.
Where it fits grant work
WCPG can fund a specialist deer study at the planning stage, EWCO and PA3 ask what deer are doing on the site, and PA7 and CWS1 pay for a species plan and the control itself. A survey gives you the evidence those schemes want. We don't prepare or submit applications: that stays with you. See our grants and funding guide.
How a referral works
From first call to the record on file
One call or email
Tell Chris which holding, what the client has noticed, and what the land is for: new planting, restocking, an existing wood, arable, or a mix. If an application is in the background, say which scheme and when it's due.
Survey and count
Chris arranges the visit with the owner, or through you if you'd rather, walks the land, and places trail cameras where they'll help. The summary comes back in plain language, with photos and clips where they add something.
Reporting in your format
Updates go to you in whatever you use for the file: a shared drive or document, or an email on your template, showing outings and deer taken. Chris keeps the owner informed every time he's on the land.
Culling to the plan
Where the survey shows numbers need bringing down, selective culling is carried out by a DSC1-qualified stalker within the seasons, under a short permission letter from the owner. Venison is inspected under Trained Person status and goes into the food chain, which is what keeps the service free.
Common questions
Questions agents and consultants ask
No. That stays with you or the client's consultant. What we provide is the deer evidence an application needs: species, numbers, routes, and damage, in plain language, plus the ongoing control where a scheme pays for it.
Yes. The summary, counts, photos, and trail camera clips are the client's to use, and if you'd like the findings set out in your own template, send it over and Chris will use it.
However suits your file. Some agents share a drive or a document that Chris updates after each outing, others want an email on their template showing dates, outings, and deer taken. Arranging when and where happens between Chris and the landowner, so you get the record without the admin.
No. There's no fee for the survey, the counts, the reporting, or any culling carried out under an agreed plan. What makes it viable for us is the venison: deer culled under the plan are inspected under Trained Person status and go into the food chain, and that is the commercial side of the arrangement. Work through an agent carries more evidence and paperwork than a direct job, so on these arrangements the venison is retained rather than shared back.
Yes. We work across Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, East Lancashire, South Durham, and Teesside, so one point of contact can cover clients in different parts of the region. See every area and town on our areas covered page.
DMQ Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1 (DSC1) and Trained Person status for the inspection of wild game, so venison can enter the food chain. Chris is a member of BASC and Fieldsports Britain. See about Chris.
Normally the same day. Call or email with the holding and what's been noticed, and Chris will get back to you the same day and arrange the visit as soon as it suits the owner.
Yes. Free fox control is available on the same basis for clients losing lambs, poultry, or game birds. See our fox control service.
Coverage
Where we work
We work with landowners and farmers across North Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, East Lancashire, South Durham, Teesside. See every town and village we cover, read our case studies, or check the deer calendar for what deer are doing each month.
Related: deer management for forestry and woodland owners, the free deer survey, grants and funding for woodland and deer management and case studies.
Got a client with a deer problem, or an application that needs deer evidence?
Call or email with the holding and what's been noticed. Chris will get back to you the same day.
Or call Chris on 07397 942663. He'll call you back the same day.