Ray Collier Country Diary - Walking Sticks

4th February 2008 - Walking Sticks

At this time of the year in the Highlands the red deer are lower down on the hills and in the glens and straths as the weather forces them to low ground. They are as iconic as salmon leaping up seemingly impossible waterfalls or red grouse calling their notes sounding like "go back" when you invade their territory. The red deer stags can now be seen almost anywhere with the best time just before dusk or at first light. Last year they were filmed at great length on the Isle of Rum and broadcast to the nation. Unfortunately it gave the impression that it was all the stags did day and night in the rut in the Autumn was fighting virtually all the time. Admittedly there is a great deal of vocal activity but serious fights are not the norm and there is much strutting around with no physical contact.
Stalking red deer is big business and the shooting and stalking industry is worth £100 million to the Scottish economy and helps to support 3,000 full time jobs. A long stalk for a good "head" to hang on the wall, the trip back with the carcase over a Highland pony and the welcome hunting lodge is the projected image. However there are problems in the deer stalking world and whilst some of them start before the deer are culled other start afterwards. Some years ago nearly all of the animal was used from the venison down to the offal that produced tripe that not many people will remember. Then prices for venison from the dealers fell and at one time there was even talk of culling the deer, essential to keep the herds in good condition, and just leaving the carcases on the hill. In the last few years there has been a campaign supported by many organisations to get the average housewife to buy and eat venison. Whilst there has been some measure of success there is still a long way to go. The marketing also needs a closer look as who would, for example, expect to find in the middle of the Highlands a large superstore in Inverness selling venison , in various cuts and form, from Ireland.
The pairs of "eye" canine teeth were at one time fetching up to £10 each mainly to the German market to make into brooches, tie pins, hat decorations and cuff links. The market collapsed when a glut came in from New Zealand and it never picked up again. These along with the liver, heart and kidneys plus skin, feet and antlers were a part of the stalkers "perks" and made up for low wages. Antlers fetched good prices and the market is still there although lower and they have a variety of uses from hat racks to walking sticks.
At the Moy Fair near Inverness each August a number of stands have collections of walking sticks of various shapes and sizes. The photograph was taken at last years Moy Fair and these were selling around £20 each. It is interesting to note that the top of the antler has been shaped into a whistle and the holes can be seen in the photograph. Whilst all these perks were important and are to a lesser extent today it really is the venison itself that can make or break the industry in the future. The main problem is the myth surrounding venison in that the housewife thinks it is tough and gamey and needs marinating in wine. If the carcase has been prepared well this is far from the truth and it can be as delicious as good beef.