I was pleased to see a Golden Eagle back at the winter feed site when I downloaded these images on Thursday. We put out all the remains from our hind cull in the winter, all the bits we do not process. Also the bones/ribs from the finished product. Whilst dropping off another ‘bucket’ to-day I mused on the practice of managing deer by shooting them and leaving them for the Eagles. Mostly done by charities I have to say, which begs the question can they be bothered to carry out proper Deer Management and by that I mean managing the resident deer for the good of the herd, harvesting the surplus for the food chain and being there to cull those that are weak, old, sick or injured. In fact the latest waste I put out was from a young hind I spotted with a broken leg.

It seems to me that the shoot to kill policy of many landowning NGOs shows no respect for the quarry they pursue. But more on that in another post soon.

I would also note that in my captured photos just downloaded, I have 1456 images over a two and a half day period. Apart from three of a mouse feeding on a ribcage all the rest were of Hoodie Crows, Black Back gulls and the odd Raven. No Eagle (or Sea Eagle which are common here) to-day. Eagles are not often on the feed and I wonder does all this killing to waste only encourage the population of Hoodies, Black Back Seagulls and Ravens to thrive. Then they wonder why the waders are declining. Maybe I should stop my feeding station?

For me the gralloch, or the occasional deer unfit for human consumption, left after the kill has sustained the birds and others forever. I am not in favour at all of the lazy practice of killing deer and giving the excuse that it was left for the Eagles.

If you are lucky enough to be charged with managing deer on a property or land, then as a Deer Managers/Stalkers you show some respect this truly wild animal.