bambislayer
Well-Known Member
Can't remember if this has been posted already , but it's definatley worth going over again
Here are the full proposals for changes to Deer Legislation, the training aspects are No.5. Taken along with the proposed DCS- SNH merger and other major uncertainties at the moment, there is a lot to be concerned about, and this stuff will almost certainly hit the Press shortly. So, along with the DMQ/ no DMQ aspect, all this stuff can then be debated on the big stage. Expect a concerted industry backlash in due course.........
There is no way they can move to a 100% register-only system, farmers and other occupiers will resist that as much as recreational stalkers, and they will have much more lobbying power through NFUS etc. I suspect a pragmatic view will be taken of "under supervision".....while I support DMQ2 for professional stalkers, there does have to be a sensible approach to people who only take a few animals a year , they should be encouraged to do the course is it not better that the person wants to be there
There are a few things on here worthy of debate.....
PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES TO DEER LEGISLATION
Recommendation 1. DCS supports the existing voluntary approach to local
collaborative deer management. To assist this approach, DCS should work
with the Association of Deer Management Groups and other interests to
develop guidelines of best practice to support and strengthen local sustainable
deer management. DCS would also continue to provide support through
incentives and regulatory tools.
Recommendation 2. The Scottish Parliament should introduce a new power to
compel a group of land managers to develop a deer management plan to
deliver public interests of national importance where the voluntary approach is
failing. This power would be supported by offences relating to non-compliance
and measures for DCS to undertake a control scheme to undertake work not
carried out.
Recommendation 3. The Scottish Parliament should modify the existing Panel
provisions so that they place a duty on its members to prepare and implement
a deer management plan within a specified area.
Recommendation 4. The Scottish Parliament should provide DCS with
emergency powers of intervention to deal with natural heritage, economic loss,
public safety and deer welfare when no other powers are adequate to deal with
a situation
Recommendation 5. The Scottish Parliament should introduce a new
requirement that all those who shoot deer must demonstrate practical skills
and knowledge. Details of those who have achieved the required standard
should be held on a register. There would be a new offence to kill or take deer
without being on this register. There would be exceptions only for those
shooting under supervision. Foreign stalkers would have to hold a hunting
certificate that is accepted by the Scottish Government.
Recommendation 6. The Minister should remove the national Close Seasons
for male deer and reduce the female Close Season to cover the period of calf
dependency. An authorisation procedure would be put in place to allow the
shooting of non-juvenile female deer during the Close season in exceptional
circumstances associated with public safety, economic loss, environmental
impacts and public or private amenity
Recommendation 7. The Scottish Parliament should link the right to shoot deer
at night to a demonstration of skills and knowledge of night shooting which
would be recorded on the register. It would be an offence to shoot deer at
night without being on the register for this purpose.
Recommendation 8. The Scottish Parliament should alter the existing offence
of driving deer to recklessly driving deer and remove the need to seek
authorisation from DCS.
Recommendation 9. The Scottish Parliament should remove DCS’ power to
require owners and occupiers of land to produce annual cull returns and
instead provide DCS with the power to require all those authorised through the
register to shoot deer to submit an annual cull return, and for it to be an
offence not to submit the return.
Recommendation 10. The Scottish Parliament should remove the right of
owner occupiers to shoot deer in the Close Season to protect their crops
without seeking authorisation.
Here are the full proposals for changes to Deer Legislation, the training aspects are No.5. Taken along with the proposed DCS- SNH merger and other major uncertainties at the moment, there is a lot to be concerned about, and this stuff will almost certainly hit the Press shortly. So, along with the DMQ/ no DMQ aspect, all this stuff can then be debated on the big stage. Expect a concerted industry backlash in due course.........
There is no way they can move to a 100% register-only system, farmers and other occupiers will resist that as much as recreational stalkers, and they will have much more lobbying power through NFUS etc. I suspect a pragmatic view will be taken of "under supervision".....while I support DMQ2 for professional stalkers, there does have to be a sensible approach to people who only take a few animals a year , they should be encouraged to do the course is it not better that the person wants to be there
There are a few things on here worthy of debate.....
PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES TO DEER LEGISLATION
Recommendation 1. DCS supports the existing voluntary approach to local
collaborative deer management. To assist this approach, DCS should work
with the Association of Deer Management Groups and other interests to
develop guidelines of best practice to support and strengthen local sustainable
deer management. DCS would also continue to provide support through
incentives and regulatory tools.
Recommendation 2. The Scottish Parliament should introduce a new power to
compel a group of land managers to develop a deer management plan to
deliver public interests of national importance where the voluntary approach is
failing. This power would be supported by offences relating to non-compliance
and measures for DCS to undertake a control scheme to undertake work not
carried out.
Recommendation 3. The Scottish Parliament should modify the existing Panel
provisions so that they place a duty on its members to prepare and implement
a deer management plan within a specified area.
Recommendation 4. The Scottish Parliament should provide DCS with
emergency powers of intervention to deal with natural heritage, economic loss,
public safety and deer welfare when no other powers are adequate to deal with
a situation
Recommendation 5. The Scottish Parliament should introduce a new
requirement that all those who shoot deer must demonstrate practical skills
and knowledge. Details of those who have achieved the required standard
should be held on a register. There would be a new offence to kill or take deer
without being on this register. There would be exceptions only for those
shooting under supervision. Foreign stalkers would have to hold a hunting
certificate that is accepted by the Scottish Government.
Recommendation 6. The Minister should remove the national Close Seasons
for male deer and reduce the female Close Season to cover the period of calf
dependency. An authorisation procedure would be put in place to allow the
shooting of non-juvenile female deer during the Close season in exceptional
circumstances associated with public safety, economic loss, environmental
impacts and public or private amenity
Recommendation 7. The Scottish Parliament should link the right to shoot deer
at night to a demonstration of skills and knowledge of night shooting which
would be recorded on the register. It would be an offence to shoot deer at
night without being on the register for this purpose.
Recommendation 8. The Scottish Parliament should alter the existing offence
of driving deer to recklessly driving deer and remove the need to seek
authorisation from DCS.
Recommendation 9. The Scottish Parliament should remove DCS’ power to
require owners and occupiers of land to produce annual cull returns and
instead provide DCS with the power to require all those authorised through the
register to shoot deer to submit an annual cull return, and for it to be an
offence not to submit the return.
Recommendation 10. The Scottish Parliament should remove the right of
owner occupiers to shoot deer in the Close Season to protect their crops
without seeking authorisation.