Scottish Countryside Alliance statement on Scottish Government Deer Report

The Scottish Government has announced that the Deer Working Group has published its report about deer management in Scotland, which you can find here.

The Deer Working Group was established by the Scottish Government in 2017, as a result of the Government's concern at the continuing issues over the standards of deer management in Scotland and the levels of damage to public interests caused by wild deer.

This Report is the result of the Group's review and contains a wide range of recommendations to fulfil the Group's remit to make "recommendations for changes to ensure effective deer management that safeguards public interests and promotes the sustainable management of wild deer".

Countryside Alliance Director Scotland Jamie Stewart said:

"Many of the recommendations contained in the Deer Working Group (DWG) report relate to legislative change, some of which are clear and obvious others will take a degree of discussion to alleviate concerns over deer welfare. I am however, most disappointed in that despite the recent favourable SNH report Assessing progress in deer management the DWG seem overly focused on numbers".

"The SNH report reflects on an improving picture of deer management in Scotland where populations have been stabilised or reducing. All credit for this must go to the Association of Deer Management Groups and the multitude of professional and recreation stalkers members".

"Much of the work carried out by private owners and DMGs has been recognised to deliver against Scotland's ambitious climate change targets. Suggestions of greater use of agency staff would do little to foster relationships on the ground or indeed serve good use of the public purse".

Image credit: George Mcdonald