Protecting and enhancing nature and improving animal welfare are
the key aims of proposed changes to deer management legislation.
It is estimated there are around 1 million wild deer in Scotland,
up from around 500,000 in 1990. This extremely high population
means that management is required to protect and restore
important habitats, particularly woodland and peatland.
In 2023 the Scottish Parliament passed legislative changes to
give authorised land managers more powers to help control the
deer population including extending the period for culling male
deer; allowing the use of non-lead ammunition and permitting the
use of ‘night sights’ to cull deer at night.
Building on this, the Scottish Government is now seeking views on
a range of further proposals to improve the current system of
deer management. These include:
- granting NatureScot additional powers to facilitate deer
management for the purposes of enhancing the natural environment
- changes to improve the welfare of wild deer when undertaking
deer management
- removing barriers for venison dealers to help expand their
markets and get more venison into the food supply chain
Biodiversity Minister said:
“Improving our natural environment and tackling the climate
crisis through tree-planting, woodland regeneration and peatland
restoration would not be possible without effective deer
management.
“We need to get the right balance of wild deer in the right areas
to maximise the environmental benefits they can bring as part of
a healthy, functioning ecosystem.
“The benefits of carefully managed wild deer populations are not
just environmental. Deer provide important employment and social
opportunities to our rural communities and they form an iconic
part of Scotland’s landscape. This consultation is an opportunity
for people across Scotland to have their say on further proposals
to improve the management of deer populations and to help shape
future legislation.”
Background
The managing deer for climate and
nature consultation seeks views on proposed changes to
Scotland’s systems of deer management.
It builds on previous legislative changes made in 2023 and
recommendations made by the Deer Working Group in their 2020
report The Management of Wild
Deer in Scotland.
The consultation will run from Friday 5 January 2024 for 12
weeks, closing on Friday 29 March 2024.
