The Management of Wild Deer in Scotland

5 Feb 2020 02:09 PM

The Scottish Government commissioned an independent report into the current arrangements for managing wild deer in Scotland in 2017. Following the sudden and untimely death of the Group’s original Chairperson, Simon Pepper, OBE, in 2018 the Group was chaired by Andrew Barbour.

The Deer Working Group were tasked with making “recommendations for changes to ensure effective deer management in Scotland that safeguards public interests and promotes the sustainable management of wild deer.”

The final report was submitted to the Scottish Government on 19 December 2019. The report is split into seven parts considering the legal status of wild deer, varying aspects of deer management and the position of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) as the Deer Authority in Scotland before making 99 recommendations for change. The recommendations are wide ranging and include updates to legislation and standardised training for all those shooting deer in Scotland.

Report to the Scottish Government from the independent Deer Working Group, examining the existing arrangements for the management of wild deer across Scotland. The Report makes recommendations to ensure sustainability in deer management practices which protect public interests.

The Management of Wild Deer in Scotland 374 page PDF, 7.4 MB