Deer Farming For Beginners

Deer Farming For Beginners

Deer farming is a business segment that is still in its infancy. Deerskin is a lucrative product, and with proper management deer farming can prove to be profitable. In this brief we will discuss the definition and types of deer farming, some of the challenges that farmers face, and factors that affect profitability.


It is widely believed that the first deer farm was established by Robert Bakewell in England during the 18th century. The basic concept of a deer farm is relatively simple. A company acquires the rights to a land plot, and then sets up a fence around it. This fenced-in area is called a "range" or, most commonly today, "a farm." The main objective of the farm is to allow hunters to pay for the privilege of hunting deer on it. The rest of this article explains more about the history and development of deer farming, and also provides some advice on how you can start your own deer farm.


Deer farming is a business that raises deer for meat, antlers, and other products. The number of deer farms in the United States has risen rapidly in recent years, from around 500 in 1985 to over 10,000 today. Part of the reason for this growth is that deer farmers can sell their products at a much higher price than typical livestock. In 2010, venison sold for $9.99 a pound at Whole Foods, where beef was $5.99 a pound and chicken was $3.99 a pound.


Deer farming, or "deer ranching," as it's sometimes called, is the practice of raising deer for their meat and hides in a controlled environment. It has a long history in North America and China, where the animals are often raised in captivity (as opposed to being hunted on-site). Deer farms typically raise white-tail deer, but some raise elk or moose. In the U.S., most of these farms are located in the South, due to its mild climate and plentiful supply of food.