Deer Management in Scotland

Deer Species
Landseer's Monarch of the Glen portrays the most familiar image of wild deer in Scotland, and the Red Deer, the subject of that painting, is the predominant species to be found in the Highlands.

The more delicate and graceful Roe Deer is found mostly in woodlands all across Scotland. In addition, there are a number of localised herds of Fallow Deer. Sika deer, a species introduced in the 19th century which have subsequently established a strong presence in Scotland and are rapidly expanding their territory in some areas. Sika hybridiswith red deer and, for that reason and to restrict damage to them are controlled within the red deer range.

The total number of deer in Scotland is currently estimated at some 750,000.

Deer Management
All deer are wild species and only become someone's property when they are captured or killed by persons entitled by law to do so - usually the owners of the land on which they are present. Landowners however also have a responsibility for the welfare of deer and their natural habitat. This involves management of deer numbers, mainly by regular culling, to ensure that there is sufficient grazing for the herd and other animals, without causing damage.

The arrangements for deer management in Scotland reflect the fact that they can freely cross boundaries between estates, farms, forests and landholdings. For red deer in particular a collaborative approach to deer management has developed with the formation of Deer Management Groups (DMGs), of which there are now more than 70 in Scotland. These mostly cover the Scottish Highlands, but are now becoming established in other areas where there are large commercial forests. The same collaborative approach is also emerging for the management of roe, sika and fallow deer in lowland areas to prevent damage to land and reduce the risk of road traffic accidents.

Deer Management Groups, which are voluntary, cover areas where there are distinct herds of deer and may range in size from 20,000 to 200,000 hectares. They can include as few as 3 or as many as 30 different landholdings. Groups are often subdivided into sub-groups for practical purposes.

The Deer Commission for Scotland
The Government Agency responsible for deer, the Deer Commission for Scotland, (Red Deer Commission until Deer (Scotland) Act 1996) was instrumental in the establishment of Deer Management Groups, and has close links with, and provides advice to them.

The Deer Commission's technical team carries out a regular programme of deer population counts. In addition, they assist with culling operations as required, and undertake research and survey work. As a last resort, the Commission has statutory powers to carry out culling on privately owned land.

Estate Activities
The estates or landholdings within each Deer Management Group area are individual rural businesses, providing employment often in remote communities. Estates are often involved in many other activities as well as deer management - for example farming, forestry, fishing, shooting, and the provision of tourist accommodation and other facilities. Most are privately owned, and are often not profitable in the normal sense.p>

Estates are often owned for enjoyment, for the satisfaction of development and improvement; also for the provision of recreation and sporting activities such as fishing, shooting and deer stalking. An increasing number of estates have been purchased by membership organisations including The National Trust for Scotland, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The John Muir Trust and The Scottish Wildlife Trust. The principal land ownership objectives of these bodies may be different from those of traditional deer management - for example, the regeneration of the Caledonian Pine Forest, or the management of wildlife or special natural heritage features. Habitat regeneration is also the primary objective for an increasing number of private estates. Where potentially conflicting land uses occur on neighbouring properties there is a role for Deer Management Groups in assisting in negotiation of management policies which meet the reasonable requirements of all members by a process of give and take.

Culling
In all cases where deer are present, management by culling is necessary. This is undertaken by professional wildlife managers, traditionally known as “stalkers”, who have unmatched experience in working with wildlife in Scotland, and a close knowledge of deer in particular. The culling of deer involves the selection of older or unhealthy animals which are shot humanely with a high velocity rifle. Culling policy is agreed by Deer Management Groups and allocated among their members on the basis of a regular coordinated count by the Group, or on advice from the Deer Commission for Scotland.

Value to the Scottish Rural Economy
Some rural land uses in Scotland are subsidised, but deer management is not. The main costs relating to the employment of professional stalkers are usually met by the letting of stalking to visiting sportsmen, and from the sale of venison. Deer stalking as an established form of tourism also brings substantial benefits to rural communities, in the form of income for hotels, guest houses, shops, game dealers and other local businesses.

In addition non tourism related deer management expenditure, for example on fencing and the supply of specialist equipment generates significant economic activity.In 2006 the Association of Deer Management Groups commissioned a consultancy study by Public and Corporate Economic Consultants (PACEC) of Cambridge under the title “The Contribution of Deer Management to the Scottish Economy”. This was a supplementary study to the UK wide study into shooting sports as a whole by the same consultancy. The key findings were as follows:-

• Total cost of all Deer Management in Scotland amounted to £105m in 2005. Two-thirds of this spend is retained in Scotland.
  
  
• Deer Management in Scotland supports the equivalent of 2520 paid full time jobs in the country. The value of this employment for the Scottish economy is £70.4m.
  
  
• The average operational expenditure on Deer Management per land holding was £54,468 per annum of which 47% was spent on staff.

The Association of Deer Management Groups is a founder member of the Country Sports Tourism Group which brings together all the country sports in Scotland with a view to introducing a co-ordinated approach to the organisation and marketing of country sports tourism in Scotland.
www.cstgscotland.com

The statutory close seasons for deer species in Scotland are:

Click here to see a chart showing the close seasons for deer species

A copy of our colour brochure, Deer Management in Scotland is available on request from :

The Secretary, The Association of Deer Management Groups, Dalhousie Estates Office, Brechin, Angus. DD9 6SG

Further information is also available from:

The Deer Commission for Scotland, Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NW

The British Deer Society, The Walled Garden, Burgate Manor, Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 1EFBritish Association for Shooting and Conservation, Trochry, by Dunkeld, Perthshire. PH8 0DY

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association, Arran House, Arran Road, Perth, PH1 3DZ

Country Sports Tourism Group, c/o BASC Scottish Centre, Trochry by Dunkeld

SRPBA, Stuart House, Eskmills Business Park, Musselburgh, EH21 7PB

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