Farming Deer

Farming Deer

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Ranching deer or ranching beef. That is the question. Aaron Phelps operates Black Pine Deer farm up near McCall, Idaho. They have been farming European Fallow Deer since 1998. They've offered USDA certified all natural venison for sale at prices ranging from venison burger..at 6 bucks a pound to tenderlion at 21.50 a pound. Aaron has a pretty pragmatic approach as to why he prefers raising deer over being a beef rancher which he used to do. "I prefer fallow deer by far. Once you get the fence up and all of the inspections through the Department of Agriculture it is a piece of cake. We feed 70 deer in a spot over there that would only hold for cows and the cows would beat it up. The deer are a lot easier on the land and a little different handling. You don't go down to D&B supply and just get deer farming stuff."

His biggest challenge is keeping 8 foot tall fences.....in good shape. Not so much to keep his deer in....but to keep predators and other wildlife OUT! "They call it slip lock because it is not supposed to slip but you have to keep up on maintenance and as long as you have good solid corners and the rest of it, once you get it up, it stays up. The elk in the winter is by far the biggest problem and that is just, really, keeping them out of the haystacks." The Phelps have fresh venision for sale year around. Along with antlers and hides. And also welcome visitors for tours of the farm..just call ahead.

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