So I know this question has probably been asked 1,000 times but I am a young guy trying to do my homework on the deer farm industry in hopes of one day having my own farm. I was wondering if someone could kind of create a checklist of sorts as to what i need to look for and have in order to run and operate a deer farm. I am pretty much at square one, with no land and no idea where to start. Any information is appreciated!
Buckle your seat belt and stretch your typing hands. You are gonna get some overwhelming response possibly. I am still new (less than 1.5 yrs raising deer). I would say visit as many farms as you can and pick things that you like from each one and apply them to your "farm" when you get one. A wealth of knowledgeable people on here
Visit as many farms as possible. Start relocating neighbors dogs now. A dog doesn't have to get in a pen to kill every deer in it.
Joined Apr 2009
1,562 Posts | 0+
cental Pennsylvania
After you are sure your state allows deer farming, and you view the regulations.
1-3. Visit lots of farms! Then visit some more, no such thing as too many visits.
4. Get yourself some land and Lay your pens out, think long and hard about how you want to do it, and keep in mind you will be expanding.
5. Get with your local mills, get a plan for what you'll be feeding. Also when doing pen layout, figure best places to make hauling fresh water easier.
6. Get a plan for what type or style of buck you want to produce and stick with it. Also, it's nice to get a plan for what preserves you may want to sell to.
7. Cut or buy poles, buy some wire. There is a very helpful man on here, Henry Martin of streamline products, he can get you quotes on fencing and materials. Some tractor supply stores carry 8' wire too.
8. Install fence, or hire a professional if your not expirenced. This cost money, but is a peace of mind when it's done right.
9. When your deer arrive, stick with these forums, there is lots of help on here.
Others will add to the list, I am sure I am forgetting something.
Have fun.
1-3. Visit lots of farms! Then visit some more, no such thing as too many visits.
4. Get yourself some land and Lay your pens out, think long and hard about how you want to do it, and keep in mind you will be expanding.
5. Get with your local mills, get a plan for what you'll be feeding. Also when doing pen layout, figure best places to make hauling fresh water easier.
6. Get a plan for what type or style of buck you want to produce and stick with it. Also, it's nice to get a plan for what preserves you may want to sell to.
7. Cut or buy poles, buy some wire. There is a very helpful man on here, Henry Martin of streamline products, he can get you quotes on fencing and materials. Some tractor supply stores carry 8' wire too.
8. Install fence, or hire a professional if your not expirenced. This cost money, but is a peace of mind when it's done right.
9. When your deer arrive, stick with these forums, there is lots of help on here.
Others will add to the list, I am sure I am forgetting something.
Have fun.
Joined Oct 2009
3,165 Posts | 1+
upstate ny
The best question you could ever ask a farmer is...What would you do different if ya had to do it again!!!
Don't invest anymore then you can afford to loose. You may get hit with EHD, dogs or some other illness in your fawns and not have anything to sell for years. Just plan on not having any real cash return for at least 3 years, more like 4-5. If you can afford to go this long with no return you should have a nice herd built and may even have some bucks to sell 
. I don't even figure in on selling does as an income producer, just to many available out there and unless you have a name that's been in the business for a long time, you probably won't get out of them what you have in them with the feed bill. They all eat a bunch and in the fall you can barely keep up with filling feeders. Feed is expensive most places especially if you don't have any farm ground to raise alfalfa on your own. You can count on spending at least $1 per day per deer on average every day of the year, sometimes at least double that. Meds, vet bills and testing are also expensive. Other then that its great!!!! I'm not trying to discourage you, just letting you know what to take into consideration. I also forgot to add that if your like me, you won't have a day off from your deer, I am scared to go out of town for more then a couple days for fear of wondering how my deer are doing without me there to check on them, especially once you get all your money invested in them. Going and checking out a bunch of farms is also the best advice on here. My other half gets pretty tired of all the work that goes into the deer and waiting to get some thing back out. I just keep telling her, wait until next years set of bucks is ready to sell, she just rolls her eyes. I'll say that every day going into the pens with the deer is without a doubt the best part of my day no matter how bad everything else may be going.
. I don't even figure in on selling does as an income producer, just to many available out there and unless you have a name that's been in the business for a long time, you probably won't get out of them what you have in them with the feed bill. They all eat a bunch and in the fall you can barely keep up with filling feeders. Feed is expensive most places especially if you don't have any farm ground to raise alfalfa on your own. You can count on spending at least $1 per day per deer on average every day of the year, sometimes at least double that. Meds, vet bills and testing are also expensive. Other then that its great!!!! I'm not trying to discourage you, just letting you know what to take into consideration. I also forgot to add that if your like me, you won't have a day off from your deer, I am scared to go out of town for more then a couple days for fear of wondering how my deer are doing without me there to check on them, especially once you get all your money invested in them. Going and checking out a bunch of farms is also the best advice on here. My other half gets pretty tired of all the work that goes into the deer and waiting to get some thing back out. I just keep telling her, wait until next years set of bucks is ready to sell, she just rolls her eyes. I'll say that every day going into the pens with the deer is without a doubt the best part of my day no matter how bad everything else may be going.
Joined Apr 2009
1,485 Posts | 0+
Vaughn, MT 59487
Best advice I would give a new deer farmer is find out your State direction on treating deer farmers. If I had a State that wanted to close their boarders or was being over aggressive on CWD rules I personally would not become a deer farmer in that State. It is hard to have a honest business plan when in most States the DNR is our regulatory agency. As everyone knows the DRN is always trying to close down the industry and gets help from the people like the Wildlife Federation to cause the trouble to the industry. Being from Montana I have seen my business destroyed in one day by a public vote on our industry by them not allowing us to harvest our animals behind an eight foot fence and by a second party.
I have been doing deer farming for 35 years and even with my State being very aggressive against deer farming I still hang in there because deer farming has been the most rewarding job I have had in all my life. Deer farming is a love of the animals seven days a week 365 days a year. One must remember we are not a political correct business because we are now first starting to advertise what we do to the public. If the public is on our side we will be one of the best and biggest industries in farming. We have let the DNR paint the picture for us on what deer farming is. This was a great error by our industry.
I have been doing deer farming for 35 years and even with my State being very aggressive against deer farming I still hang in there because deer farming has been the most rewarding job I have had in all my life. Deer farming is a love of the animals seven days a week 365 days a year. One must remember we are not a political correct business because we are now first starting to advertise what we do to the public. If the public is on our side we will be one of the best and biggest industries in farming. We have let the DNR paint the picture for us on what deer farming is. This was a great error by our industry.
Joined Apr 2014
1,245 Posts | 0+
Greensburg, IN
Build on high ground that is sloped and timber surrounded as far away from other livestock as possible. Beauty is in the eye of the hunters wallet. The hunters arrow is the truthful jury of all genetics being bought, sold ,and bred. Read Deer Forum Daily!
Good luck
Good luck
Joined Apr 2009
2,617 Posts | 0+
Edgar, WI
Advice to the new farmer? Hmmm, there is much I could give. The sad thing is unless you have a mentor who is true in their desire to keep you from screwing up, you will screw up. The sad part is every year some newbie spends serious money and later learns the hard lessons. Ahhh well, such is business. As I saw one wise person state already, don't spend more than you can afford to lose.
Joined Sep 2009
249 Posts | 0+
Utica, PA Venango Co.
I completely agree with Roger & Bell. There is a lot to be learned, and lots of resources to be learned from. Deer forums is only one example of a great resource. Don't try to reinvent the wheel.
“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself. �
(24,24,24);georgia, serif― Eleanor Roosevelt
“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself. �
(24,24,24);georgia, serif― Eleanor Roosevelt
Joined Apr 2014
1,245 Posts | 0+
Greensburg, IN
Bak
As I went about my day I thought about my recommendation that you read deer forum daily. I don't want you to think everything on here is the gospel. It is an awesome resource to any deer farmer of any experience level but can also be a tool for the corrupt. Deer Forums now has over 2500 members. Most of those on here are great people. When you have this many people though, it is inevitable that there are going to be those who are unbelievably deceitful. There are some incredible scammers in this business looking to cash in on the naive or the next unsuspecting newbie. They are very slick talkers and they have very clever methods of building trust. Beware the same ones with multiple bidder numbers at auctions running up their deer in the past are also becoming more frequent on deer forums using multiple member handles for hyping their stuff. Roger's advice is very good about seeking a mentor. They will help you sort this out.
As I went about my day I thought about my recommendation that you read deer forum daily. I don't want you to think everything on here is the gospel. It is an awesome resource to any deer farmer of any experience level but can also be a tool for the corrupt. Deer Forums now has over 2500 members. Most of those on here are great people. When you have this many people though, it is inevitable that there are going to be those who are unbelievably deceitful. There are some incredible scammers in this business looking to cash in on the naive or the next unsuspecting newbie. They are very slick talkers and they have very clever methods of building trust. Beware the same ones with multiple bidder numbers at auctions running up their deer in the past are also becoming more frequent on deer forums using multiple member handles for hyping their stuff. Roger's advice is very good about seeking a mentor. They will help you sort this out.
Joined Feb 2013
780 Posts | 1+
Markleville IN
I see you are from Ohio
If I were to move to a state to raise whitetail Ohio or Oklahoma would be it. They appear to be the most deer friendly
You are not far from us in Indiana, about an hour and you are welcome to visit any time. With our partners, we bought a preserve in Latham Ohio and are having an open house on Aug 15 & 16th, you are welcome to come. please visit our facebook page tusk n tines outfitters of ohio.
If I were to move to a state to raise whitetail Ohio or Oklahoma would be it. They appear to be the most deer friendly
You are not far from us in Indiana, about an hour and you are welcome to visit any time. With our partners, we bought a preserve in Latham Ohio and are having an open house on Aug 15 & 16th, you are welcome to come. please visit our facebook page tusk n tines outfitters of ohio.
Just wanted to thank everyone for the replies. I'm in the process of scheduling farm visits now and I'm taking all your advice into consideration
Joined Apr 2014
1,245 Posts | 0+
Greensburg, IN
Considering all the bugs out there and the ever looming issues resulting from trace backs I recommend when starting out that you buy all your deer from one farm.
When you get to a point you need to outcross do it by AI. Don't bring in someone else's problems by bringing in deer from several different farms. Use your own breeder buck and AI. Buying and bringing in new deer every year will soon bring you a disaster.
When you get to a point you need to outcross do it by AI. Don't bring in someone else's problems by bringing in deer from several different farms. Use your own breeder buck and AI. Buying and bringing in new deer every year will soon bring you a disaster.
Joined Apr 2009
624 Posts | 0+
Clinton, PA
I'm in western pa and I'd love to help u in the right direction. I started young and I have tons of good advice as to what I thought was goin work and what actually worked. Also what not to do. Get ahold of me if u want to talk everything deer. What part of Ohio are u in?
Joined Apr 2009
624 Posts | 0+
Clinton, PA
I'm new myself.
-Like several have said do not spend more than you can afford to loose.
-If you are gone all the time and have to rely on other people strongly reconsider.
-Do not get caught up with farm names and pedigrees.
-There are $250 does that are better than $10,000 does sold every day. Buy deer that produce what you want not breed with what it hot.
-Have a professional build your first couple pens if you care about looks and functionality. $4/ft, $250 for H braces and $500 for gates all galvanized pipe is cheaper than I can build myself
-If you start with more than a couple deer buy a breeder and do not AI. I visited farms and found bucks I liked... They were all out of my price range... The next year my favorite 2yr old buck I looked at in PA happened to damaged and going to a hunt ranch as a shooter.. He saved me more money than he cost and he turned out to be a phenomenal 445" at 4.
-If you are in a EHD prone area I would buy a couple does breed to FEMALE sexed and pull the fawns. My bottle fawns were much easier to save from EHD.
-If you do get EHD don't waste money trying to find out what strand of EHD it is either because Newport wont get back to you in the same year..
-Low cut pens with good run off, fogging, vaccination etc does not mean anything if midges are down wind of your property and pens
-Have a handling facility ready before you bring home the first deer... It doesn't have to be much to be functional. Way less stressful and way more efficient and effective than darting.
-Have a vaccine plan and medications for it on hand
-There's a point where you can put more into a deer medicating it and keeping it alive than the animal is worth so you can be placed with some rough decisions
-You have to experience somethings to learn. There are a lot of people willing to help but people that have done this for several years don't think about little things and you can read all the descriptions in the world and until you see it for yourself it may be hard to interpret.
-Like several have said do not spend more than you can afford to loose.
-If you are gone all the time and have to rely on other people strongly reconsider.
-Do not get caught up with farm names and pedigrees.
-There are $250 does that are better than $10,000 does sold every day. Buy deer that produce what you want not breed with what it hot.
-Have a professional build your first couple pens if you care about looks and functionality. $4/ft, $250 for H braces and $500 for gates all galvanized pipe is cheaper than I can build myself
-If you start with more than a couple deer buy a breeder and do not AI. I visited farms and found bucks I liked... They were all out of my price range... The next year my favorite 2yr old buck I looked at in PA happened to damaged and going to a hunt ranch as a shooter.. He saved me more money than he cost and he turned out to be a phenomenal 445" at 4.
-If you are in a EHD prone area I would buy a couple does breed to FEMALE sexed and pull the fawns. My bottle fawns were much easier to save from EHD.
-If you do get EHD don't waste money trying to find out what strand of EHD it is either because Newport wont get back to you in the same year..
-Low cut pens with good run off, fogging, vaccination etc does not mean anything if midges are down wind of your property and pens
-Have a handling facility ready before you bring home the first deer... It doesn't have to be much to be functional. Way less stressful and way more efficient and effective than darting.
-Have a vaccine plan and medications for it on hand
-There's a point where you can put more into a deer medicating it and keeping it alive than the animal is worth so you can be placed with some rough decisions
-You have to experience somethings to learn. There are a lot of people willing to help but people that have done this for several years don't think about little things and you can read all the descriptions in the world and until you see it for yourself it may be hard to interpret.