Also called: Cervid Farmer, Elk Rancher
Raises farmed deer and elk for venison, breeding stock, hunting preserves and velvet antler, under strict disease-testing rules.
Checks tall fences around pastures of red deer and elk, sorts animals through a padded handling system for health checks, and keeps records for state chronic wasting disease programs. In fall you sell breeding stock or venison; some farmers harvest velvet antler sold for supplements.
Estimate; a farm business with wide swings.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. No degree required; animal science or ag business classes help. Most learn from other farmers.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Self-taught, 4-year college. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Animal Science, Agribusiness, Wildlife Science.
Growing slowly. Disease rules, especially chronic wasting disease, limit growth.
Low risk for 10 years. Raising and handling deer and elk outdoors is hands-on farm work.
Classes: Animal science (FFA), Biology, Business.
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