The venison in shops, restaurants, markets and online can come from wild or farmed deer.
Wild deer
Venison comes from four wild deer species in Scotland – roe, red, sika and fallow deer.
Roe and red deer are native, colonising Scotland 10,000 years ago. Red deer inhabit open hills and use woodlands for shelter. Roe deer are the most widely distributed deer species in the UK, and dwell mainly in woodlands throughout mainland Scotland.
Sika and fallow deer became established through introductions and park escapes. Fallow deer were introduced from the Mediterranean by the 13th century. Sika deer, introduced from Japan in the 19th century are more widespread across south, west and north Scotland.
Without any natural predators deer populations require management due to impacts on land use through grazing, browsing, trampling, and road accidents. Open range red deer numbers have been static for 20 years with declining trends, while roe and sika populations are expanding.
Wild deer management maintains healthy populations balanced with habitat and land use. In the uplands voluntary Deer Management Groups promote collaborative management. Open and close seasons for females (there is no longer a close season for males) govern when deer can be ‘harvested’, although General Licenses allow year-round protection for crops and trees, making wild venison available continuously through the year.
Farmed deer in Scotland
Europe’s deer farming industry started in Scotland in 1969 at Glensaugh to test if red deer could replace subsidised hill sheep. The first commercial farm began in 1973, and Scotland now has around 70 deer farms.
Initially focused on breeding stock, farmers recruited deer from parks and estates. Today’s farms are self-sufficient and more specialised rather than handling all production stages.
Farmed deer graze extensively on grass, with young stock housed during their first winter. Winter feed includes hay, straw, and roots, with pasture management being crucial.
The Moredun Research Institute has studied deer diseases and properly managed deer are mainly disease-free.
Prime venison comes from deer under 27 months, slaughtered under strict regulations. Most Scottish farmed deer are transported to an abattoir in Yorkshire although field shooting remains an option for smaller quantities and on-farm production/processing.,
Scottish farmed venison is sold through major retailers, farmers markets, farm shops, specialist butchers, and direct mail.