-versatile forest wildlife ranger secures prestigious youth prize-
Daniel Sloss (22), a Wildlife Ranger Apprentice from Benderloch near Oban received the prestigious award on Friday from the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) at GWCT Scottish Game Fair at Scone Palace.
It marked a milestone day for the youngster who combines an apprenticeship with Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) with running a shoot at Lochnell Estate and helping the family’s business distribute venison locally.
Daniel fought off stiff competition from two other short-listed candidates to land the prize which recognises individuals who, by their management and approach, are regarded as youthful ambassadors for their profession.
SGA Chairman Alex Hogg, MBE (pictured above with the winner) who presented the award said it was ‘richly deserved’ – the Young Gamekeeper prize being one of the top accolades within game and wildlife management in Scotland.
Daniel, also a Shinty player for Newtonmore Camanachd, has spent two years at SRUC Elmwood College in Fife undertaking a Game and Wildlife Management qualification while working on the first FLS programme of its kind.
The broad programme means he learns to manage deer as part of forest protection, helping to monitor habitat condition and to work within government targets and frameworks.
At Lochnell Estate, he is responsible for different objectives, re-instating a partridge shoot for guests giving him, overall, a wide experience of managing land for diverse purposes.
From hill to table
One of his passions is the journey of deer, from skilled management of the species to the dinner table and all the steps in that process.
“I am involved in all aspects,” he said. “I manage the deer and then, with the family business, we butcher it, process it, promote it as healthy, sustainable produce and then distribute it locally.
“It is something I am passionate about. We also go into local schools and teach people about it. It is interesting to see how little people know, at times, about where food comes from. I’d love to see more people buying venison. There is a market for it but it is not easy for everyone to get hold of so it is great to make more people aware.”
Gamekeeping, as a profession, is changing rapidly, with more of Scotland’s uplands being in demand for conservation, climate mitigation, clean energy and recreation.
Prize judges recognised Daniel’s personal qualities in managing diverse objectives; something young peers will have to do more of in years to come.
“You have to be very open minded these days,” he acknowledges. “Different landowners have different goals and the key is to try to find where you can work together for good.
“I probably work at slightly different ends of the scale, with public and private objectives, but I feel that knowledge is really beneficial in helping to see the full picture of land management.”
The SGA also presented two Long Service medals to Jim Park (above) from Bandirran, Perthshire, and Raymond Holt (below), who started his career in Aberdeenshire, aged 15.
The Long Service medals recognise individuals who have given 40 or more unbroken years of service to the game sector, on land or river.
