This episode of the HighGround podcast features Adam Chant, a former Royal Corps of Signals electronic‑warfare specialist who transitioned to a rural portfolio career centred on deer management. After 25 years in the Army, Adam was ready for a change and discovered HighGround via a segment on BBC’s Countryfile.

He enrolled on one of the charity’s residential Rural Week courses at Bicton College, finding the broad overview of land‑based careers and local networking invaluable. Already passionate about venison as a sustainable, ethical food source, he pursued formal qualifications through the British Deer Society, passing the Deer Stalking Certificate 1 and 2 before volunteering with Defence Deer Management.

Adam explains that deer populations in the UK have quadrupled since the 1970s, rising from about 450,000 to over 2 millionwoodlands.co.uk; unchecked browsing damages young trees and hampers woodland regenerationwoodlands.co.uk. Deer managers therefore play a vital role in balancing wildlife and land‑management objectives—conducting surveys, culling ethically, monitoring impacts and liaising with landowners.

Adam discusses different routes into the profession (estate keeper, wildlife ranger, contractor) and revenue models (paid culls, venison sales, guided stalks), emphasising that most start as part of a portfolio career. He shares candid advice on financial planning, community engagement and the therapeutic benefits of working outdoors.

For Adam, learning multiple skills from firefighting to renovating his house—provides flexibility and resilience. The episode closes with tips on building local trust, volunteering during resettlement and talking openly with family about the realities of rural living.

00:00 Intro & series overview: Tom & Jamie recap the purpose of HighGround’s podcast series—creating an ever‑expanding library of land‑based career stories for service‑leavers and veterans.

02:05 Meet Adam Chant: A 25‑year veteran who served in electronic warfare and signals intelligence describes his background and reasons for leaving the Army to spend more time with his family.

03:58 Discovery of HighGround: Adam recalls seeing HighGround on Countryfile and later attending a Rural Week at Bicton College. He praises the course’s breadth—covering everything from tech innovations and conservation to small‑scale farming—and its value in building a local network.

06:44 Why deer management? Growing up in a family of chefs, Adam was drawn to venison as an ethical, low‑impact meat. His introduction came via the Deer Stalking Certificate 1 course run by former serviceman Ben Heathauer.

08:55 What is deer management? Adam explains that modern deer management is about more than shooting: it involves population surveys, habitat impact assessments and selective culling to protect woodland and biodiversity. Over‑browsing by deer prevents natural regeneration and damages young trees, threatening small mammals and butterflieswoodlands.co.uk.

10:39 Why control deer? He notes that Britain’s deer population has grown from about 450 000 in the 1970s to an estimated...