Books by John Fletcher

A Life for Deer A Deer Vet Tells His Story and Theirs

Nobody is better equipped to tell the fascinating story of deer than John Fletcher, who with his wife founded Europe's first commercial deer farm and has gone on to become the world's leading authority on deer matters, advising the Royal Family, the National Trust, and governments and commercial organizations worldwide. John Fletcher's story is a compelling interaction between an intelligent, original and very likeable man and a group of particularly attractive animals, in which he skilfully blends the pattern of his life in deer farming from veterinary student to world authority.

An Introduction to Deer Farming

Deer

The Celts called them “fairy cattle” and the Greeks associated them with the hunter goddess Artemis, but for most people today, deer are seen as cute, like Bambi, or noble, like the Monarch of the Glen. They can be a danger when we're driving at night, or they can simply be a tasty venison burger. But while we may not often eat humble pie—an actual pie filled with deer organs—deer still appear in religion and mythology, on coats of arms, in fine art, and in literature ranging from <i>The Yearling</i> to <i>Harry Potter</i> and <i>The Chronicles of Narnia</i>. In <i>Deer</i>, veterinarian and deer farmer John Fletcher brings together the cultural and natural history of these dignified animals. Fletcher traces the evolution of deer, explaining why deer grow and cast aside their antlers each year and describing their symbolism in various cultures throughout history. He divulges the true story of Rudolph and Santa’s other reindeer and explores the role deer have played as prized objects of the hunt in Europe, Asia, and America. Wide-ranging and richly illustrated, <i>Deer</i> provides a fresh perspective on this graceful, powerful animal that will appeal to hunters and gatherers alike.

Deer

The Celts called them “fairy cattle” and the Greeks associated them with the hunter goddess Artemis, but for most people today, deer are seen as cute, like Bambi, or noble, like the Monarch of the Glen. They can be a danger when we're driving at night, or they can simply be a tasty venison burger. But while we may not often eat humble pie—an actual pie filled with deer organs—deer still appear in religion and mythology, on coats of arms, in fine art, and in literature ranging from <i>The Yearling</i> to <i>Harry Potter</i> and <i>The Chronicles of Narnia</i>. In <i>Deer</i>, veterinarian and deer farmer John Fletcher brings together the cultural and natural history of these dignified animals. Fletcher traces the evolution of deer, explaining why deer grow and cast aside their antlers each year and describing their symbolism in various cultures throughout history. He divulges the true story of Rudolph and Santa’s other reindeer and explores the role deer have played as prized objects of the hunt in Europe, Asia, and America. Wide-ranging and richly illustrated, <i>Deer</i> provides a fresh perspective on this graceful, powerful animal that will appeal to hunters and gatherers alike.

Fletcher's Game A Vet's Life with Scotland's Deer

Book by Fletcher, John

Gardens of Earthly Delight The History of Deer Parks

This is a highly original, profusely illustrated, and well researched account of deer parks. With humility and respect Fletcher touches on errors commonly made by archaeologists and historians, taking issue with long held theories while drawing on his lifetime working with deer to formulate plausible explanations as to, for example, why they were not domesticated until the 20th century, how parks evolved from haga and elricks, why deer parks were created throughout Eurasia, why fallow so rapidly ousted red deer from medieval British parks, and much more. <br>He ranges from meat sharing amongst chimpanzees to the symbolism of venison as the elite product of hunting, ensconced within seven centuries of the English Royal Warrant, through the 300 year long prohibition on its sale within England and the continuing illegality of selling hunted venison within the USA, the aristocratic pursuit of park breaking, and the imposition of the Black Act. He stresses the cross-cultural importance of rulers being seen to hunt, compares ancient Chinese parks, the colossal Asian ring hunts, and the water hunts of Germany as expressions of man's urge to contain deer. <br>Within Britain, which has for a thousand years held more deer parks than any other part of the world, he describes how deer were fed, transported, enclosed, captured, castrated and housed, and how they were hunted in the confines of parks. The recent theory as to the use of trenches for handling deer in medieval Scotland is explored. The international symbolism of white deer, collared deer and enclosed deer is discussed. Recently, parks provided deer for English carted hunts and Scottish sporting estates; now we recognise their ecological and recreational value. We learn how parklands may be our spiritual home - the environment in which we are most content - and that parks have always been, in a fashion, designed landscapes.

Gardens of Earthly Delight: The History of Deer Parks

<p>This is a highly original, profusely illustrated, and well researched account of deer parks. With humility and respect Fletcher touches on errors commonly made by archaeologists and historians, taking issue with long held theories while drawing on his lifetime working with deer to formulate plausible explanations as to, for example, why they were not domesticated until the 20th century, how parks evolved from haga and elricks, why deer parks were created throughout Eurasia, why fallow so rapidly ousted red deer from medieval British parks, and much more. He ranges from meat sharing amongst chimpanzees to the symbolism of venison as the elite product of hunting, ensconced within seven centuries of the English Royal Warrant, through the 300 year long prohibition on its sale within England and the continuing illegality of selling hunted venison within the USA, the aristocratic pursuit of park breaking, and the imposition of the Black Act. He stresses the cross-cultural importance of rulers being seen to hunt, compares ancient Chinese parks, the colossal Asian ring hunts, and the water hunts of Germany as expressions of man's urge to contain deer. Within Britain, which has for a thousand years held more deer parks than any other part of the world, he describes how deer were fed, transported, enclosed, captured, castrated and housed, and how they were hunted in the confines of parks. The recent theory as to the use of trenches for handling deer in medieval Scotland is explored. The international symbolism of white deer, collared deer and enclosed deer is discussed. Recently, parks provided deer for English carted hunts and Scottish sporting estates; now we recognise their ecological and recreational value. We learn how parklands may be our spiritual home - the environment in which we are most content - and that parks have always been, in a fashion, designed landscapes.<br></p>

Gardens of Earthly Delight: The History of Deer Parks

This is a highly original, profusely illustrated, and well researched account of deer parks. With humility and respect Fletcher touches on errors commonly made by archaeologists and historians, taking issue with long held theories while drawing on his lifetime working with deer to formulate plausible explanations as to, for example, why they were not domesticated until the 20th century, how parks evolved from haga and elricks , why deer parks were created throughout Eurasia, why fallow so rapidly ousted red deer from medieval British parks, and much more. He ranges from meat sharing amongst chimpanzees to the symbolism of venison as the elite product of hunting, ensconced within seven centuries of the English Royal Warrant, through the 300 year long prohibition on its sale within England and the continuing illegality of selling hunted venison within the USA, the aristocratic pursuit of park breaking, and the imposition of the Black Act. He stresses the cross-cultural importance of rulers being seen to hunt, compares ancient Chinese parks, the colossal Asian ring hunts, and the water hunts of Germany as expressions of man's urge to contain deer. Within Britain, which has for a thousand years held more deer parks than any other part of the world, he describes how deer were fed, transported, enclosed, captured, castrated and housed, and how they were hunted in the confines of parks. The recent theory as to the use of trenches for handling deer in medieval Scotland is explored. The international symbolism of white deer, collared deer and enclosed deer is discussed. Recently, parks provided deer for English carted hunts and Scottish sporting estates; now we recognise their ecological and recreational value. We learn how parklands may be our spiritual home - the environment in which we are most content - and that parks have always been, in a fashion, designed landscapes.

Gardens of Earthly Delight: The History of Deer Parks

The Management of Enclosed and Domesticated Deer

This is the first book devoted to international deer husbandry techniques for the growing industries of venison, velvet antler, and antler trophy production as well as long established extensive park systems for amenity.   Written by world leaders in their specialised subjects, chapters shed light on widely differing management systems and the optimum design of deer farms, handling yards and fencing layouts. Moreover, readers will discover the requisites of good stockmanship and specialist veterinarians describe different diseases the deer may develop. Details on available treatments, the general biology of deer and an explanation of controversial ethics of velvet and trophy production complete this work. As deer farming has come of age this collection is timely. At fifty years the New Zealand deer industry carries one million animals with annual venison exports to America, Europe and growing antler markets in China and Korea. Chinese antler production is well-established and Asian reindeer husbandry even more ancient. In North America and Europe, deer are now being kept for antler trophies and amenity in many historic parks.   This volume is a valuable resource for everyone researching deer management systems, be it practising veterinarians, deer farmers, park managers or agricultural and veterinary students.

The Management of Enclosed and Domesticated Deer International Husbandry Systems and Diseases

This is the first book devoted to international deer husbandry techniques for the growing industries of venison, velvet antler, and antler trophy production as well as long established extensive park systems for amenity. <br><br>Written by world leaders in their specialised subjects, chapters shed light on widely differing management systems and the optimum design of deer farms, handling yards and fencing layouts. Moreover, readers will discover the requisites of good stockmanship and specialist veterinarians describe different diseases the deer may develop. Details on available treatments, the general biology of deer and an explanation of controversial ethics of velvet and trophy production complete this work.<br>As deer farming has come of age this collection is timely. At fifty years the New Zealand deer industry carries one million animals with annual venison exports to America, Europe and growing antler markets in China and Korea. Chinese antler production is well-established and Asian reindeer husbandry even more ancient. In North America and Europe, deer are now being kept for antler trophies and amenity in many historic parks. <br>This volume is a valuable resource for everyone researching deer management systems, be it practising veterinarians, deer farmers, park managers or agricultural and veterinary students.

The Management of Enclosed and Domesticated Deer International Husbandry Systems and Diseases

This is the first book devoted to international deer husbandry techniques for the growing industries of venison, velvet antler, and antler trophy production as well as long established extensive park systems for amenity. <br><br>Written by world leaders in their specialised subjects, chapters shed light on widely differing management systems and the optimum design of deer farms, handling yards and fencing layouts. Moreover, readers will discover the requisites of good stockmanship and specialist veterinarians describe different diseases the deer may develop. Details on available treatments, the general biology of deer and an explanation of controversial ethics of velvet and trophy production complete this work.<br>As deer farming has come of age this collection is timely. At fifty years the New Zealand deer industry carries one million animals with annual venison exports to America, Europe and growing antler markets in China and Korea. Chinese antler production is well-established and Asian reindeer husbandry even more ancient. In North America and Europe, deer are now being kept for antler trophies and amenity in many historic parks. <br>This volume is a valuable resource for everyone researching deer management systems, be it practising veterinarians, deer farmers, park managers or agricultural and veterinary students.