Gamekeepers welcome deer decision as ‘victory for common sense’

Gamekeepers have welcomed a decision by the Scottish Government not to extend the deer culling season – saying the changes could have “normalised” the killing of heavily pregnant animals.

Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie said in making the decision he considered the “potential distress” that could be caused to those working in the sector who are ”required routinely to shoot heavily pregnant female deer.

Ministers had consulted on changes which would have added three weeks on to the start of the deer culling season, with another six weeks added on at the end.

This had been recommended by the 2020 Deer Working Group report, which reviewed deer management laws and practices in Scotland.

But Mr Fairlie said that after consulting he had “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”.

He added: “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 open season for culling female red, sika and fallow dear runs from October 21 to February 15 – with open season on female roe deer starting on the same date and running till the end of March.

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) had campaigned against extending the season, fearing that killing pregnant female deer could have an impact on the mental health of its members.

SGA chairman Alex Hogg said said they were “really pleased” by the Scottish Government’s announcement, which he described as a “victory for common sense and listening”.

Mr Hogg stated: “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.

“Had this gone through, it would have demoralised them.”

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) had also raised “significant concerns” about changing the season for culling female deer.

BASC Scotland director Peter Clark said that starting the cull earlier could have seen animals killed when they still have dependent young, saying this would pose “serious welfare implications”.

And he said the minister had “acknowledged the potential distress caused to many stalkers by being required routinely to shoot heavily pregnant female deer”.

Mr Clark added the government decision not the change the season “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”.