Gamekeepers 'spared torment' of pregnant deer cull

High numbers of all deer species, and a lack of natural predators, mean they are having a negative impact in Scotland’s landscape, explains NatureScot, the Scottish Government agency responsible for natural heritage

 

"These negative impacts of excessive deer numbers can be seen throughout our forests – from preventing new trees from growing to damaging existing woodland.

 

"Sustainable deer management is vital if we are to bring populations into balance with the rest of nature, and effectively tackle the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, through forest regeneration, woodland creation, peatland restoration and habitat improvement.

 

"The Scottish Government currently has no plans to reintroduce lynx, wolves or any other large carnivore species. Humane culling by trained professionals following best practice is therefore the key tool.

 

"There are up to 400,000 red deer on open ground, and up to 105,000 in woodlands, as well as up to 300,000 roe deer, 25,000 sika, and at least 8,000 fallow deer.

 

"It is estimated that the total annual cull is likely to be around 200,000 deer. Meeting Scottish Biodiversity Strategy targets for 2030 and 2045 will require culling about another 50,000 deer (across all species) a year.

 

"Wild deer are free-ranging and belong to no one. If you own the land the deer are on, you have a right to take or shoot those deer. The Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 sets out when, where, how and by whom deer can be shot." 

 

The deer shooting season for hinds and does - female deer - runs from October 21 to February 15 for red, sika, and fallow, and to March 31 for roe.

 

September culling, licensed by NatureScot, is widely practised by land managers, including Forestry and Land Scotland, which has been culling female deer out of season in September to manage the "increasing negative impact" in national forests.

 

Concerned by "the levels of damage to public interests caused by wild deer", ministers set up an independent body in 2017, called the Deer Working Group, to review wild deer management. Its report in 2020 made 99 recommendations, including changes to the cull season for female deer. 

 

Accepting the vast majority, the Scottish Government consulted on extending the female culling season by three weeks at the beginning, and six weeks at the end, finishing on March 31 for all four species of deer. This meant female deer could be killed around full-term pregnancy stage. 

 

The largest body in Scotland representing professional deer managers, the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA), opposed the proposal, arguing gamekeepers would be "sickened" by the prospect.

 

An SGA spokesman said: “Culling and then gralloching [removing internal organs] heavily pregnant hinds with big calves represents a welfare and mental health issue for the deer manager.

 

"One of our deer managers still recoils, 25 years on, from culling a hind in the first week of March and having to kill the calf inside."

 

Hearing concerns about the potential impact on gamekeepers’ mental health, Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick (SNP) asked the Scottish Government in January if it will bring forward legislation to change the close season for female deer.

 

The Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie MSP replied that current levels of culling had reduced deer numbers without having to extend the female season.

 

Mr Fairlie explained: "I have taken careful note of the potential distress caused to many stalkers by being required routinely to shoot heavily pregnant female deer and I have decided against any wider change to the timings of the female close season."

 

Welcoming the decision, the SGA chairperson, Alex Hogg MBE, said: “Deer managers have a difficult job to do and they are not uncaring people. They are humans with feelings and families, like other professionals, and they respect their quarry.

 

“Had this gone through, it would have demoralised them. That would have been counterproductive because these highly-trained professionals are going to be needed more than ever, if Scotland is to meet its nature and biodiversity goals.

 

“This is a victory for common sense and listening."