Deer population in doubt
The aim of deer population management should be to ensure healthy herds in balance with the environment and the needs of land users. The UK has 75 per cent of the world’s heather moorland, most of it in Scotland. Much of it already carries conservation designations, and a drastic cull would result in widespread conversion of heather moor to scrub and a breach of these very designations.
The income generated by stalking is vital in many remote areas and must not be jeopardised by the reduction of an iconic species to the status of vermin, as suggested by your report.
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Hide AdThe Scottish Countryside Alliance believes deer management groups, with local agreement, should set an appropriate cull target, and it should be carried out in a humane manner.
Hill red deer and their habitat are essential to Scotland’s international brand image. If we allow mass culls based on flawed data, and allow scrub to replace heather moorland, we lose this image and a large part of our tourist income.
TONY ANDREWS
Chief executive, SCA
Ingliston
Midlothian