Trophy Ethics Programme
Ethical trophy animals are raised with purpose, respect and strong welfare, from veld management to handling and veterinary checks.
Managing deer for ethical trophy opportunities means working with the seasons. The rut for our fallow and red deer falls mainly in late autumn. During this time, we observe stags closely for age and behaviour, only noting stags that have reached their mature class for consideration. Calving and fawning happen in November and December, so we keep disturbance low and camps quiet. Velvet and antler growth is tracked through the warmer months, and we make field notes on each potential candidate. Winter brings shorter veld and lower nutrition, so we supplement with bales and mineral licks. During any drought year, extra forage planning and water checks are added for animal health and veld recovery.
All camps used for the Trophy Ethics Programme offer a mix of open veld, thorn cover and natural water points, with extra troughs in the dry season. We check the fence lines daily, walk them on foot every week, and check the electric energisers and batteries after each power cut, ensuring the safety and containment of our herds. Shade is given by planted karee or acacia where natural trees are thin, and all camps have windbreaks for winter and shelter for heat in summer. Stags in the programme range over wide areas to build condition and keep natural movement. Pasture quality is measured by our pasture and forage manager, who also monitors carrying capacity and veld health, especially during the tough seasons.
We handle trophy animals only in the quiet crush, with as few people as possible. When a stag is being prepared for a fair-chase opportunity or a move, he is brought into the handling kraal using calm driving, never noise or force. Our venison provenance manager logs the provenance and lot details, while our veterinary liaison officer arranges health checks, FMD status checks and any permits with our game veterinarians. No animal leaves a camp for trophy or breeding without full veterinary sign-off and a clear bill of health. We also run educational briefings for buyers and partners on how to keep welfare and legal requirements at the centre of any hunt or transfer, drawing on our own veld experience to answer practical questions. For any visit, our team enforces strict biosecurity at the camp gate.
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