Arran of the many stags - the sea impinges on her very shoulders! An island in which whole companies were fed.... Skittish deer are on her pinnacles, soft blackberries on her waving heather; cool water there is in her rivers...

12th Century, Anonymous

From 'The Lay of Arran' by Caeilte, the ancient Ossianic bard. Taken from 'The Colloquy in Silva Gadelica': a collection of tales in Irish.

The wild game which was once a historic source of red meat is much less readily available today. A by-product of modern shooting estates, the meat may be consumed by the sportsmen themselves, or it may be exported. Though in the past this has left only small quantities available on the home market, the amount available has been increasing recently as export markets have become less reliable. Though there are pheasant, grouse and hares, the largest game resource is venison. The stag season begins on 1st July, though the condition of the animals improves throughout July and gets better, with rich summer feeding, in August. While the season ends on 20th October the flavour begins to deteriorate in September with the mating season. The hind season is from 21st October till 15th February though they tend to lose condition by the turn of the year.