THE Scottish Government will pay for deer to be killed in a bid to drive the population down by an additional 50,000 animals each year.
On Thursday, government agency NatureScot announced that it had launched two “innovative pilot schemes” to pay for deer culling “in response to the climate and nature emergencies”.
The two schemes focus on specific areas of the Highlands and Central Belt, and aim to incentivise land owners and managers to cull additional deer over and above the level currently controlled in the area.
Only qualified and eligible deer stalkers will receive payments for killing the additional deer. The schemes will start in autumn 2024 and run to March 2025 with expectation to repeat in winter 2025/26 and 2026/27.
NatureScot said that deer populations have been increasing over the last 50 years, and “while they are an important part of Scotland’s biodiversity, in high numbers their trampling and browsing has a negative impact on habitats, particularly woodlands”.
The agency said it is estimated that an increase in the national cull of 25%, or 50,000 deer each year across all species, will be needed over several years “to achieve the ambitious but necessary targets in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and restore nature across Scotland by 2045”.
One pilot covers an area of 959 km2 to the north of Glasgow and west of Stirling, where the focus will be on lowland and urban roe deer management, as well as expanding red deer populations.
The second will cover an area 527km2 on the south-eastern side of Loch Ness in the Highlands where the focus will be on incentivising control of invasive non-native sika deer in important native woodlands as well as commercial forestry.
Meanwhile, the Cairngorms National Park Authority will be running a third scheme to incentivise a reduction in red deer hind numbers in the National Park.
Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: “We know that Scotland is facing a nature loss crisis. Unsustainable deer numbers are exacerbating the problem as large populations continue to damage our plant life.
“Landowners have a significant role in helping us meet this challenge. These schemes will encourage responsible and sustainable wildlife management practices that align with our goals for both the climate and our natural environment.”
Donald Fraser, NatureScot’s head of wildlife management, said: “Globally and in Scotland, nature is in decline and we face a climate emergency. Greater urgency is required to meet the challenges of these twin crises and Scotland has ambitious targets to do so.
“Sustainable deer management is a vital part of this. We know, however, that 80% of deer management is carried out by the private sector at a net cost to deer managers. These innovative pilot schemes will give extra support to those working hard on the ground to tackle high deer numbers in certain areas.
“This will help bring the number of deer in balance with the rest of nature so that our woodlands, forests, peatlands and other habitats can recover and thrive.
“Deer management and the jobs and skills associated with it can also bring significant benefits for the rural economy and that’s why these pilots will also investigate future training support as well as exploring the barriers and opportunities to increasing the supply of venison to local communities.”
