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
Protect Our Park – Don’t Feed The Deer Campaign at Phoenix Park
Ireland’s Office of Public Works (OPW) has launched the ‘Protect Our Park – Don’t Feed the Deer’ campaign, aiming to alter public behaviour to safeguard the wild deer in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. This initiative follows a recent University College Dublin (UCD) report highlighting the negative impact of human feeding on the behaviour and welfare of the park’s deer population.
Understanding Tick Hazards in South Downs National Park
The British Deer Society is excited to share the findings of a groundbreaking research project we supported, aimed at understanding tick hazards in South Downs National Park (SDNP). As the UK’s most visited national park, SDNP attracts countless visitors every year, making the management of tick-borne diseases a critical public health concern.
Deer O Deer: Embracing Deer In The Garden
Explore our latest feature on the Deer O Deer garden at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show, highlighting how to create beautiful, deer-friendly landscapes and opportunities for you to get involved.
