Possible Clues:

• Archdeacon is operating game
• Meet this; it always sounds dear, by the sound of it
• Essentially event is about game
• Exotic meat
• 'What may be 8 down sounds dear, of course (7)'
• Deer departed?
• Sounds as if such meat is too dear for one
• So there's poison spread round a particular meat!
• Game opening shortly is being played
• Meat over from function held in November