ABOUT THE PILOT STUDY
The highlands are an iconic feature of Scotland. The open moorland and mountain landscapes are valued and enjoyed by both residents and visitors, while these areas also provide the resources for a range of activities such as hill farming, deer stalking, game birds, forestry and fishing, which help to support the rural economy. In recent years, a number of drivers of change have affected deer management in the uplands.
These fall into three into three broad areas. First, there has been an increasing policy emphasis on managing grazing impacts through reducing deer densities, especially for priority habitats.
Second, culling and fencing associated with increased woodland planting has affected deer numbers and distribution. Third, trends in recreation coupled with the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 have led to increasing numbers of people accessing rural areas to walk in the mountains. These changes have led, in some cases, to conflicts between the legitimate objectives of landowners and the public benefits that highland landscapes provide.
An improved understanding of the nature of such conflicts might aid their management. Here, we focus on an example of where recreational land use might be impacting on the economics of deer stalking. Specifically, we report on a pilot study to identify whether available management information can be used to access trends in the abundance, culling levels, distribution and habitat preferences of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), in order to determine whether further research into the drivers of change might be warranted
FURTHER READING
Deer Management in Protected Landscapes: BDS Together for Deer Best Practice Event with North Wessex Downs National Landscape
Landowners, farmers, conservationists and deer managers came together to learn about sustainable deer management in protected landscapes.
Partnership Announcement: British Deer Society and The Stalking Show
Together, with the help of our community and the fantastic help of the BDS Midlands, Wales and The Marches branch volunteers, we will be supporting the co-founders of The Stalking Show, David and Deanne, to make their 2025 event bigger, better and more memorable than ever before all whilst sharing the mission, vision and values of The BDS with the stalking community across the UK.
Give a Gift of Conservation
This Christmas, give a gift that truly matters—support the conservation of the UK’s wild deer. Learn how donating, gifting memberships, or making purchases through the British Deer Society can create lasting positive change for wildlife, the environment, and future generations. Choose a meaningful gift that goes beyond materialism and helps protect our natural world.
