“ For years they feared an imminent forced sale of the farm. They worked every hour they could…”

“No hunter himself, the author nevertheless recognizes that the urge to hunt….still exists in many people….He has many stirring experiences to relate, and along the way he explores specialist subjects that fascinate..’

‘Enthusiasm for venison is a key theme all through this book…. It was his desire to produce healthy, lean meat, combined with a determination to provide deer with better living conditions than those of the open mountainsides, that led him to buy Reediehill, a 48-acre hill farm, in 1973.”

“He is determined to debunk the romantic myths surrounding deer.

He and his wife Nichola bought Reediehill, a small farm on a windswept hill high above Auchtermuchty and set about farming deer. The story of his exploits both as a deer farmer and as a worldwide consultant on red deer farming makes an exciting read

Fletcher says that a large part of the satisfaction comes from knowing that you can survive on 85 acres. This is no mean feat when you realise deer farmers are not eligible for subsidies, unlike sheep and cattle farmers.”

“However this is much more than just a book about one man’s obsession. Fletcher raises some fundamental questions that affect all of us: our modern attitude towards hunting and how carefully dictated taboos dictate what we eat. This fascinating book is a must…”

“Fletcher has strong views of the ‘compact’ between animals and those who eat them, something which in this age of mass food processing tends to be quietly ignored.”

“His evangelical attitude towards deer has led not only to a highly interesting life, but to research that suggests that, if we are going to eat meat, better deer than cows… Fletcher believes that our metabolism is used to lean game meat and thus cannot cope with the fat-rich flesh available in supermarkets throughout the Western world.

He and his wife…. set up a deer farm in Auchtermuchty. One of their first ventures rivalled even TV back-to-nature chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s escapades: they invented the Veniburger.”

“There is much interesting information on native wildlife and a number of hilarious veterinary episodes are recounted….The book is thought-provoking …..This is a cautionary but useful tale for young enthusiasts. It demonstrates the advantages and disadvantages of following an idea rather than the well-trodden professional path.”

“the book is rich in curio detail….One of the most pleasant things … is that the text is besprinkled with historical nuggets..

It is a moving story of a struggle against constant odds… In establishing his deer farm…John and others were probably creating the first, new, domesticated animal for five thousand years”

“This is quite simply one of the best deer books I have come across and one, moreover, which will appeal to a wide spectrum of readers.”

“It is impossible to give more than a flavour of this well written and deeply thoughtful book in a short review but, once started, it is difficult to put down”

“Few people know more about red deer or write with such authority. His research on the Isle of Rum led him to create with his wife Nichola a pioneering deer farm in Fife. He tells the story with wit and style and I greatly enjoyed the book.”

“If you want to discover more about deer, try the fascinating ‘A Life for Deer’ ”

“Proving the viability of farming deer has tested Dr Fletcher’s enthusiasm and dedication to the limit, and the triumphs and disasters make gripping reading.”

“The regeneration of the antler is one of the mysteries of biology and if we could fully understand it it might open the door to enable amputees to regenerate limbs.”

“All in all a thoroughly entertaining read, whether you are a deer farmer, a scientist, or a person who enjoys an account of rural life interspersed with acute observation of changes in the way humans relate to one another and to the animals around them….it should be a standard text”

“This composition is a must-have for all deer farmers as it chronicles the establishment of a new livestock industry in the face of resistance.”

“The book describes how John and his wife, Nichola, developed Reediehill but also raises and answers many serious and fascinating questions about deer and their management..”

“This may not be a hardened stalker’s perspective but for those who are passionate about deer it will provide fascinating reading material. This autobiography has received rave reviews from practically all of Britain’s serious national newspapers”

“This book is such a good read: it will go straight to the heart of many farmers and their families”

“If you finish the book without at least thinking of signing up to Fletcher’s religion of deer farming I would be surprised.”

“ ‘A Life for Deer’ is both a cracking piece of entertainment and a heartfelt argument for a fresh look at Scotland’s production and consumption of red meat. ”