Ash Hill View Deer Farm

Ash Hill View Deer Farm in Carmel is home to a little over 30 red deer and farmer Nathan Swett, whose family has been cultivating these lands and these fascinating creatures for generations! If you’re new to the world of deer farming, you might be surprised to hear that they can even be farmed at all. For one, Ash Hill View’s deer look a little different from the native whitetail deer you can find in forests all across America. That’s because the deer on Ash Hill View are red deer, which come from Europe and tend to be similar in care and behavior to elk. You also might be shocked to learn that there used to be over 100 deer farms in the state of Maine just a few decades ago! Venison is not just something that can be hunted from the local whitetail populations during deer season, but is also a really healthy red meat option due to how lean the meat is. The industry declined in past years due to the cost-effective availability of beef, but recently, there’s been a growing interest in venison due to its sustainable capabilities and healthier product in comparison to beef. Plus, it’s just straight-up delicious.

With just under 500 acres of land to work with, Nathan’s got plenty of cool plans for where Ash Hill View is going to go, but why not find out for yourself by paying the farm a visit? (Call ahead and Nathan might just let you help out with feeding the herd!) And if you’re interested in picking up some venison (or maple syrup!) for yourself, look for Ash Hill View Deer Farm at the Bangor European Market, Tiller & Rye, and the Bucksport Bay, Southwest Harbor, and Hampden Farmers’ Markets!