David Barker
Well-Known Member
NatureScot - deer cull incentive schemes to help tackle nature and climate crises.
Update for DMRT
July 2024
Three pilot incentive schemes will launch this autumn to financially support deer managers
to control numbers of deer in specific parts of Scotland in response to the climate and nature
emergencies.
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.
In recognition that the majority of Scotland’s deer cull is carried out by private estates and
individuals at their own expense, NatureScot will open applications for two incentive
schemes that aim to support this essential management in specific areas of the central belt
and Highlands.
In this innovative approach, qualified and eligible deer stalkers will receive a payment for
additional deer culled over and above the level currently culled in the area. A third scheme is
being run by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
One pilot covers an area of 959 km 2 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 527km 2 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 commercial forestry. See maps below.
For both pilot areas deer stalkers will be eligible provided they have the legal right to take or
kill deer on the specified land. They will need to have a minimum of Deer Stalking Certificate
level one (or equivalent). To ensure that culling is additional to the levels currently recorded
in the two pilot scheme areas, the payment would only be made for additional adult female
deer and juveniles of any sex culled above a minimum cull rate.
Strict eligibility criteria and compliance checks will be in place. Participants must use the new
NatureScot Deer App to record and submit data including geolocation and photographic
evidence of their cull, as well as information on how carcasses were disposed of. This will
help NatureScot in its ongoing work to increase capacity in local supply chains for venison.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority pilot scheme focuses on red deer managed by
highland estates. Here, a target will be agreed based on a three-year average hind cull. A
payment will be made on an agreed number of carcases if the total cull exceeds 110% of the
3 year average. This pilot scheme will be managed by CNPA staff.
For all three schemes, payment will be for female deer. Juvenile deer will also be subject to
payment to avoid any welfare concerns around orphaning dependant young.
In total the three schemes are supported by £285,000 from the Scottish Government. The
schemes will open in October 2024 and run until the end of March 2025 with expectation to
repeat in winter 25/26 and 26/27. Lessons learned from these pilots will be used to develop
any future incentive schemes.
NatureScot
Wildlife Management
Update for DMRT
July 2024
Three pilot incentive schemes will launch this autumn to financially support deer managers
to control numbers of deer in specific parts of Scotland in response to the climate and nature
emergencies.
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.
In recognition that the majority of Scotland’s deer cull is carried out by private estates and
individuals at their own expense, NatureScot will open applications for two incentive
schemes that aim to support this essential management in specific areas of the central belt
and Highlands.
In this innovative approach, qualified and eligible deer stalkers will receive a payment for
additional deer culled over and above the level currently culled in the area. A third scheme is
being run by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
One pilot covers an area of 959 km 2 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 527km 2 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 commercial forestry. See maps below.
For both pilot areas deer stalkers will be eligible provided they have the legal right to take or
kill deer on the specified land. They will need to have a minimum of Deer Stalking Certificate
level one (or equivalent). To ensure that culling is additional to the levels currently recorded
in the two pilot scheme areas, the payment would only be made for additional adult female
deer and juveniles of any sex culled above a minimum cull rate.
Strict eligibility criteria and compliance checks will be in place. Participants must use the new
NatureScot Deer App to record and submit data including geolocation and photographic
evidence of their cull, as well as information on how carcasses were disposed of. This will
help NatureScot in its ongoing work to increase capacity in local supply chains for venison.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority pilot scheme focuses on red deer managed by
highland estates. Here, a target will be agreed based on a three-year average hind cull. A
payment will be made on an agreed number of carcases if the total cull exceeds 110% of the
3 year average. This pilot scheme will be managed by CNPA staff.
For all three schemes, payment will be for female deer. Juvenile deer will also be subject to
payment to avoid any welfare concerns around orphaning dependant young.
In total the three schemes are supported by £285,000 from the Scottish Government. The
schemes will open in October 2024 and run until the end of March 2025 with expectation to
repeat in winter 25/26 and 26/27. Lessons learned from these pilots will be used to develop
any future incentive schemes.
NatureScot
Wildlife Management
