Deer

A verse work of agricultur al advice written by a 16th century English farmer. An enlarged edition of his work, Five Hundreth Pointes of Good Husbandrie , was published in 1573.

The deer in the parks, chases and forests of medieval England were managed more actively, and witha greater skill and care, than is perhaps generally realized. Their owners derived considerab le benefits from them, not only in the opportunit y to hunt, which was often subsidiary , but invenison, a high status meat. Though deer were oten privileged , deer farming was generally integrated into other agricultur e or woodland activities ; deer parks, in particular , were often efficientl y managed units fulfilling a number of other purposes, so much so that we should perhaps be cautious about dismissing them, as is so often done, as no more than status symbols.

Hunting has long been one of the activities which marks out the elite. Via the control of resources like hunting grounds and quarry, the exercise of patronage - the right to hunt and gifts of meat - and the employment of ritualised behaviour, kings and aristocrat s emphasised their special status and otherness.

The table of contents and illustrations from a 16th century hunting manual by Jaques du Fouilloux.

In the Middle Ages, deer were a primary source of food, resources, and inspiration, and the medieval table was often laden with a variety of venison. This site examines the popularity of deer as an object of the hunt and as an important source of protein in the medieval diet.

Animals were present everywhere in the everyday life of the Middle Ages: wild animals, like bears, wolves, wild boars, and deer; fish; poultry and farm animals; and the companions of the warrior, the peasant, and the hunter, like horses, falcons, and dogs.

The fauna of Anglo-Saxon England was plentiful and varied, and included some animals that have since been made extinct in this country. The vast areas of uninhabited forests, heaths and fells were home to many creatures, in addition to the other wild creatures that inhabited the towns and villages including the domestic animals.

Medieval hunting.

Elk, deer, and boar.

Medieval and modern recipes for venison.