Local wild venison is one of the most sustainable meats you can eat – no factory farming, no food miles. Venison is a lean and protein-rich meat that’s low in fat and packed with iron and B vitamins.

By buying High Weald venison you are supporting the local economy and the deer stalkers and landowners who are managing deer to protect the landscape.

Use our interactive ‘buy local’ map (link to the right) to find a venison supplier near you, and look out for High Weald venison at your local butcher or farm shop, or pub and restaurant.

Venison food hygiene and selling rules

The rules around selling venison depend on how much you are selling, and how it has been processed. The guidance below summarises the key points, but always check with your local authority if you are unsure.

Selling as a stalker in small quantities

If you are a stalker shooting for your own consumption then food hygiene regulations do not apply. You can also supply game either free of charge or for payment to other people without registering as a food business, provided quantities are small. This is a practical way of being able to supply directly to neighbours, local households or community groups.

Selling to a game dealer or AGHE

You can sell deer carcasses ‘in fur’ to a non-retail game dealer or Approved Game Handling Establishment (AGHE).

The deer must be inspected at gralloching by a person holding a Large Game Trained Hunter qualification (included in DSC1), and the carcass must be accompanied by a numbered and signed carcass label attached to the carcass. The carcass value is assessed by weight, which is noted on the declaration. Some dealers will collect from an on-site chiller; otherwise the carcass must be delivered the same day and handled as food throughout.

Selling directly to restaurants, pubs or hotels

You can sell in small quantities directly to local food businesses. Food hygiene inspection and paperwork requirements still apply. The BASC Wild Game Guide Q&A (link on this page) is a useful reference for the rules around local direct sales.

Running a venison business

If you prepare and sell larger quantities of game on a regular basis, you are likely to be classified as running a food business, and food hygiene regulations will apply.

The premises you use must be registered with your local authority under food business registration requirements. Contact your local authority for specific guidance, or get in touch with us and we can point you in the right direction.

What happens to venison from a landowner’s stalking agreement?

If your stalking agreement includes providing carcasses to the landowner, the same food hygiene rules apply to any onward sale.

Carcasses can be sold to a non-retail game dealer or AGHE, or supplied in small quantities to local pubs, restaurants, or hotels, provided the correct inspection and declaration requirements have been met.

See our page on ‘Managing deer on your land’ for further guidance on stalking agreements.