Highland keepers’ relief over SG decision not to cull heavily pregnant hinds
Scotland’s deer managers have hailed Scottish Government’s decision not to alter the female deer seasons, saying professionals will be spared the mental torment of culling heavily pregnant hinds.
The government consulted on whether to extend the female culling season which would have added six weeks to the end of the current open season and three weeks to the start.
The change was one of 99 recommendations made by the 2020 Deer Working Group report, which reviewed deer management laws and practices in Scotland.
But deer management professionals in the SBA - the Scottish Gamekeepers Association - campaigned against the change, saying it would impact the mental wellbeing of professionals.
Culling up to March 31, they said, would mean deer managers having to shoot females which could be up to three quarters of the way through their pregnancy.
They would then have to remove large calves from the mother whilst carrying out routine gralloching (opening) of animals for the food chain.
The SGA claimed that this prospect revulsed consulted members and the representative body met with Ministers and other MSPs, cross-party, to seek a stop to the proposal.
They were joined in their campaign by Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust, a charity providing mental health and financial support to professionals and their families in land and river management.
Rural Affairs Minister Jim Fairlie announced that Scottish Government would not be changing the female deer open season, having listened intently to deer stalkers on the ground.
Responding to a Parliamentary question by Highlands SNP MSP Emma Roddick, he said the Government believed the female deer cull could be undertaken within the current season, with authorisations remaining available for out of season culling, when required.
“Following consultation with stakeholders, I have concluded that, in most cases, the cull levels required to reduce the overall deer population to support nature and climate objectives can be achieved within existing deer seasons.
“Where it is necessary to cull outwith existing seasons, there will continue to be the ability to apply to NatureScot for authorisations. In coming to this decision, 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.”
The SGA welcomed the ‘common sense’ decision by the Minister, saying that having the buy-in of professionals would be essential to meet higher culls in future.
“We are really pleased at this announcement. We met with the Minister, and others, and relayed our members’ fears over the proposal. Everyone we spoke to didn’t want to be in situations where culling heavily pregnant animals and removing large calves was to be normalised in Scotland.
“Deer managers have a difficult job to do and they are not uncaring people. They are humans with feelings and families, lime 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,” said SGA Chairman, Alex Hogg, MBE.
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation also welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision.
The association’s Scotland director, Peter Clark said: “We had significant concerns about the initial proposal to move the start of the female deer season to October 1. An earlier female cull could have resulted in hinds being shot that still have dependent young, posing serious welfare implications.
“We are glad to see the Minister has acknowledged the potential distress caused to many stalkers by being required routinely to shoot heavily pregnant female deer. This demonstrates an understanding of the practicalities of deer management and a willingness to listen to the views of those actively involved in conservation on the ground.”
BASC remains committed, he said, to supporting effective and ethical deer management practices that align with the welfare of wildlife, ecological balance, and the needs of rural communities.
“The association will continue to engage with the Scottish Government and stakeholders to ensure that legislative decisions reflect evidence-based best practices.”