Consider too ‘other’ access takers, and their impact on the grand plans; and before we go off ‘half cocked’ - can anyone who can actually find their way to Loch Choire care to describe it for the benefit of the aspiring managers? Or the nature of the terrain, etc? Lots of other wrinkles to consider before you jump in headlong.
It may be the case that an increased cull effort over time would manage the expectations of NatureScot, it would also most likely be the easiest option for all directly concerned, but for aspiring hunters I’d suggest their efforts would likely be of better utility if they were to apply their expertise and craft to the burgeoning deer numbers in the National Forest Estate; Loch Choire may be singled out as an outlier among open hill estates (ie making a political point/example), but generally speaking DMG’s are playing along with the SNP policy as directed by their quango of choice, however ill-named they may be, and there are fairly few examples of chronic, long term mismanagement over the open hill estates, indeed some of the more historically notable places are all but shorn of their deer. And yet, the proponents of change away from the traditional model which breathed life into far flung communities are unwilling to elaborate as to what the alternative money making land use model entails, so far it is going to be semi scrub, high fuel load and tick abundant, this much we know, but as to the income-generating prospects….
The increasing deer numbers are found in the woods, not so much with the open hill areas.
It’s a long way to go only to have your grand plans dashed by the myriad factors outwith your control, but by all means give the unplanned-for access takers a cheery wave as you ponder the clearing of your particular beat for the day.
