Scottish deer management - new legislative proposals

[Conor O'Gorman]

The Scottish Government has today launched a consultation on major proposals to change the legislation around deer management in Scotland. It closes on 29 March.

Some of the proposals are as follows (not exhaustive, do read the consultation doc via links below to read all of them):

• The close season for female deer of all species should be changed to cover the period of highest welfare risk, from 31 March to 30 September.
• Everyone shooting deer in Scotland should meet fit and competent standards as evidenced by having achieved at least Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1.
• Use of a shotgun to kill deer should be subject to stricter regulation.
• Venison specific regulations should be repealed and venison should simply follow the same regulatory procedure as other wild meat and game products without the additional requirement of a Venison Dealers Licence.
• The owner or occupier of land should be allowed to shoot stray farmed deer on that land in order to prevent damage by the deer, providing there is, by their assessment, no other reasonable or practical way to contain the deer.
• Anyone wishing to keep deer as private property (i.e. not for the purpose of farming or as an exhibit in a zoo) should require a licence to protect the welfare of those deer.
• Deer Management Nature Restoration Orders issued by NatureScot requiring fencing, reductions in deer numbers, cull plans and reporting for designated areas - with non-compliance being an offence.
• NatureScot granted new emergency powers to include the ability to enter land to undertake short term deer management actions for a period of up to 28 days, to tackle damage.
• Statutory Code of Practice on the capture of live capture of deer in Scotland. Any capture of live deer should be individually authorised by NatureScot.    

BASC statement here:

https://basc.org.uk/basc-statement-on-launch-of-scottish-deer-consultation/ 

Consultation overview here:

https://consult.gov.scot/environment-forestry/managing-deer-for-climate-and-nature-consultation/ 

Download the consultation doc here:

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/consultation-paper/2024/01/managing-deer-climate-nature-consultation/documents/managing-deer-climate-nature-consultation/managing-deer-climate-nature-consultation/govscot%3Adocument/managing-deer-climate-nature-consultation.pdf 

Respond to the consultation questionnaire here:

https://consult.gov.scot/environment-forestry/managing-deer-for-climate-and-nature-consultation/consultation/

 

Edited January 5 by Conor O'Gorman

[8 shot]

13 hours ago, Conor O'Gorman said:

Everyone shooting deer in Scotland should meet fit and competent standards as evidenced by having achieved at least Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1.

This is putting more people off Stalking in general than any other a regulation. Very expensive to take for the recreational stalker for no return and will put off the twice a year visitor. For me the main reason deer are almost out of control all over the country is over regulation. And it won't belong before we'll all have to do a Competence Test for ownership for all Firearms.

[Scully]

8 minutes ago, 8 shot said:

This is putting more people off Stalking in general than any other a regulation. Very expensive to take for the recreational stalker for no return and will put off the twice a year visitor. For me the main reason deer are almost out of control all over the country is over regulation. And it won't belong before we'll all have to do a Competence Test for ownership for all Firearms.

You won’t get any opposition to compulsory DSC tickets from shooting organisations, they run the courses! 🙂

[miki]

27 minutes ago, Scully said:

You won’t get any opposition to compulsory DSC tickets from shooting organisations, they run the courses! 🙂

Correct.
BASC were 'trailing' courses last year regarding fit and competent standards and setting out their stall that they were the only 'nationwide' organisation that could manage that task.

[Newbie to this]

1 hour ago, Scully said:

You won’t get any opposition to compulsory DSC tickets from shooting organisations, they run the courses! 🙂

100%

[8 shot]

It's all tying in nicely for the BASC. The Government starts this year paying Land Owner £90/Ha to control deer, you run the courses on the understanding every deer stalker is full trained, and  every deer shot is traceable somewhere. ie. Taxable. VAT, Income tax etc.

BASC DSC1 course Non Member £385, Members £295,  saving £90...... Full membership £89..... Bingo membership triples next year or two. Oh and don't forget the refresher course after 5 years and the yearly subscription to the "Approved Deer Stalker" scheme all run by the BASC...if you can give us a Lead ban ASAP.

Yes i am very cynical but this is a carbon copy of what started in Agriculture 30 odd years ago. 

 

 

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

BASC supports industry-led voluntary training and is opposed to the introduction of mandatory competence testing for any form of shooting.

[welsh1]

@Conor O'Gorman please place your posts in the relevant sections rather than just the General shooting section.I have moved this one for you.

[Conor O'Gorman]

3 hours ago, welsh1 said:

@Conor O'Gorman please place your posts in the relevant sections rather than just the General shooting section.I have moved this one for you.

Thanks @welsh1and I apologise for posting this in the wrong section of the forum.

[8 shot]

On 06/01/2024 at 11:04, miki said:

Correct.
BASC were 'trailing' courses last year regarding fit and competent standards and setting out their stall that they were the only 'nationwide' organisation that could manage that task.

I see today that the BASC has launched it "Competent Deer Stalker" list  ££££££££££££ compulsory testing for all who want to own a Firearms in the next year two. There will be no recreational shooter in less than five years. They are single-handedly burying all shooting.

Edited January 12 by 8 shot
add text

[bishop]

49 minutes ago, 8 shot said:

I see today that the BASC has launched it "Competent Deer Stalker" list  ££££££££££££ compulsory testing for all who want to own a Firearms in the next year two. There will be no recreational shooter in less than five years. They are single-handedly burying all shooting.

Im not surprised at anything that is legislated for anymore with regards to fieldsports. 

Edited January 12 by bishop

[Conor O'Gorman]

BASC has published its position on the consultation - some details as follows:

The narrative within the introduction to this consultation appears to blame the over population of deer for all loss of biodiversity, when the truth is there are many factors affecting both the climate emergency and biodiversity loss.

It is BASC’s view that native deer should not be relegated to pest status and demonised as a national problem but rather discussed and managed at an appropriate level to deliver nature recovery and would like to see this as part of the narrative of any Scottish strategy.

In general, we welcome this consultation and the opportunity it affords to ensure the long-term sustainable management of Scotland’s deer. However, below are the key points that we believe should be appreciated when considering our responses:

1. We do not consider deer to be a national problem, indeed in many areas of Scotland the deer populations are well managed at an environmentally sustainable level. We do however accept that certain species in certain areas are a problem. We certainly would not want native deer to be considered as pests to be eradicated.
2. We believe that the Scottish government should address the impact of all herbivores on natural ecosystems and that this should be based on up to date and valid habitat impact assessments. 
3. As stated above, BASC is the main organisation representing deer stalkers (42,000) and is the main provider of deer management training (approx. 50% of all DSC1/2s annually). As such we are well placed to ensure the sector has the capacity to manage deer, now and in the future.
4. We believe that the Scottish government should harness the potential of our deer stalker members to act as volunteer deer managers across many parts of Scotland. This is a more long-term, sustainable solution to the management of Scotland’s deer population.
5. The Scottish government needs to invest in the venison supply chain to ensure that there are no bottlenecks and a demand for all the extra venison that will be produced as a result of an increased cull.
6. BASC is keen to help deliver the deer management required across Scotland and will work with the Scottish government and its agencies to enable this.

Click the link below for more details:

https://basc.org.uk/protect-the-future-of-deer-management-in-scotland/