Lochaber residents invited to enter ballot for cut-price deer stalking
With the coronavirus pandemic seeing the cancellation of pre-existing bookings from overseas deer stalkers, Jahama Highland Estates has brought forward plans to offer discounted shooting to local residents of Lochaber.
Local people are now being invited to enter a ballot for the opportunity to stalk deer across Jahama ‘s large land holdings in Lochaber at a discounted rate for the months ahead as the stag season gathers momentum.
Announcing the move this week, Jahama said it is all part of its new ‘ethical venison brand’, which will be available to buy in select cuts directly from the estate from August.
While enabling the community to buy locally-sourced venison at accessible prices, those successful in the ballot will also receive a 25 per cent discount voucher on Jahama Venison.
As part of a strategy to make its recreational activities more accessible to the local
community, Jahama has brought forward plans to offer the discounted stag stalking days to those living within one hour’s drive of the Mamore, Glenshero and Killiechonate estates.
The company – part of the
GFG Alliance group which owns Lochaber Smelter - had initially planned to offer a select number of discounted stag stalking days to the community on an annual basis starting in 2021.
However, the cancellation of pre-existing bookings from overseas deer stalking tourists due to the Covid-19 pandemic has created some availability to bring forward this initiative to the remainder of this year.
With the open stag season traditionally running from the start of July to the middle of October when the hind season begins, Jahama carries out its deer culling activity from the beginning of August into the New Year.
Jahama’s Chief Operating Officer, Julia Stoddart, commented: ‘We have listened to local people who want to connect directly with the land through hunting for their own food, and we are delighted to take our first steps towards achieving this ahead of our original schedule.
‘Sustainability is the driving force of Jahama and GFG Alliance more widely. As a wild animal that must be actively managed for environmental and welfare reasons, venison is a truly sustainable meat.
‘With this in mind, we want to provide sporting opportunities that were previously inaccessible to many people, as well as making this healthy and nutritious native meat available to a wider market.’
Those with a qualifying postcode and their own deer-legal hunting rifle are invited to email their name, address and telephone number to highland@jahamaestates. com to register their interest by August 1.
After that closing date, a random selection process will be used to allocate the available days at the discounted rate.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, applicants must have their own deer-legal rifle and optics, must be hill-fit as transportation in Jahama vehicles cannot be provided this season, and must maintain social distancing during the stalk.