The BASC scheme has been running many years with out any other roll outs so it was always going to be under scrutiny. Had this really been positive for scotland as was described by the BASC MEDIA TEAM i am sure it would have been kept on and others started.
The Arran scheme has indeed been running many years and a lot of time and effort put into it by so many people. And so many recreational stalkers benefited. The Arran scheme has led to more schemes. The current schemes are here:
Stalking schemes
The BASC tender application outcome for Arran posted by
@wytonpjs from whatever was posted in the Arran FB page is disappointing for many people and the timing and content of your cynical comment is, I think, distasteful and insensitive, to say the least.
As to national level in Scotland, BASC will continue to advocate for its proposed system of community integrated deer management whereby local volunteers are trained and encouraged to undertake deer management alongside and coordinated by the professional wildlife ranger staff of FLS. Similarly, if the Scottish government want to encourage greater uptake of qualifications within the deer management sector, then they should look to subsidise relevant training courses as the Forestry Commission have done in England.
Almost all deer management stakeholders accept that there are considerable merits of integrating communities in the management of Scotland’s deer – particularly in the lowland context. This means giving trained recreational deer stalkers more opportunities to manage deer in their local area, as well as widening community participation in deer stalking through the provision of training. The benefits of community integration are numerous, and the
foundations of this vision are highly sustainable. It will build resilience into the management framework; it will enable a sustainable food source to be harvested, processed and consumed locally; it will effectively and flexibly protect the environment; it will improve economic productivity; and it will enhance community knowledge of deer impacts and benefits.
Achieving greater community integration will require a concerted effort by a diversity of stakeholders – including local communities, landowners, shooting organisations, statutory agencies and environmental NGOs. Only through collaborative working will key barriers – such as land availability, training provision, lack of infrastructure and supply chains – be effectively overcome. The Community Integrated Deer Management proposal would allow trained stalkers access to local publicly owned land, thus empowering local communities and reducing the expenditure on contracts.
Many Scandinavian countries use this model currently and it is proven to be a successful strategy. This could be further developed by the Scottish government to ensure that we can manage our deer populations cost effectively and sustainably into perpetuity.
However it turns out, I'm sad to see the end of the opportunity provided by BASC and for those involved who have put a significant amount of effort in providing outstanding red deer stalking opportunities for others and I'm especially thinking of "Bob" Logan and Chris Brooks, to whom I'm personally indebted. Respect and gratitude!
