Scottish Government

Local involvement in understanding change and its implications;

"I have no problems with the changes as long as private estates and Deer Management Groups are involved in any changes from the onset".

Put greater weight on road safety issues;

"As well as addressing legitimate road safety concerns involving deer, shouldn't the DCS also be educating the public in a wider sense with regard to the presence of deer on roads?"

Disease could be a significant factor of change;

"The issue of wildlife disease could be a significant factor for change in deer management."

The robustness of evidence on wild deer;

"…In particular the calculations producing the figure of 338 features that remain at risk are hard to follow."

"There is robust evidence demonstrating the extent to which populations alter over wide areas where reduction culls are undertaken. This information should be given due consideration."

Proactive promotion of deer related tourism and recreation;

"A more proactive promotion of deer both for sporting tourism and as an iconic species (red deer) for broader tourism will help to improve the public perception of deer and their management."

Promote holistic approach to deer management;

"A more holistic approach is welcomed. The agricultural sector is in a state of flux and the impact on the changes in numbers of agricultural herbivores should be taken into account."

The impact and implications of climate change;

"The document makes strong reference to climate change and possible effects on deer/deer populations/habitats. Much of this can only be supposition at this stage."

Design of effective conflict management mechanisms;

"Developing effective mechanisms to reconcile conflict is the key to sustainable deer management. The lack of description of mechanisms in this draft is its biggest weakness."

Appraising the Deer Commission's long-term thinking, while calling for more concrete mechanisms to assess progress;

"Effective mechanisms will need to be in place within a much shorter timescale to ensure the visions stated…are to be achieved by 2027".

Important of developing land management measures;

"Other land management measures will need to be considered in order to manage

deer numbers. Control of deer numbers by shooting alone would not achieve the vision."

Achieving balance between economic and environmental aspects, and promoting success;

"The DMG acknowledges the increasing recognition of the economics as well as the environmental importance of deer management. The success in the deer industry should be more widely promoted."

There were some concerns over the ability to communicate the issues and challenges to the public;

"We support the case for increasing public understanding of wild deer and their management. We believe that it would be helpful for the Scottish Government and its Agencies to more frequently give credit where it is due and acknowledge where progress is being made."

"The negative perception of deer management in some quarters is neither accurate nor helpful and reversing that is a shared responsibility between those involved in deer management and relevant public sector interests."

Achieve and manage the right balance between deer species;

"The detrimental effect of Sika numbers increasing needs stronger emphasis, with the need to safeguard red deer purity. Muntjac should be kept out of Scotland at all costs."

Local economic benefits;

"More prominence should be given both to the contribution of deer stalking, as in many cases the major generator of employment in remote areas, and to the unquantified number of tourists, and indeed local people for whom herds of red deer are a spectacular attraction - even an 'icon'"

Importance of articulating the costing, measurement and monitoring of the vision in clearer terms;

"Monitoring is effective if done by people who know the ground, deer and season."

The positive and negative effects of the interaction between deer and natural systems;

"Deer are part of the natural system and do not have any adverse affects on the natural system."

Concern that there may not be sufficient focus on deer welfare;

"The vision statement does not contain any reference to the welfare of the deer."

Collaborative working;

"There needs to be an attitude of working with interested parties, including landowners as opposed to an apparently arrogant stance that has existed …"

Protecting vulnerable areas with proper mechanisms;

"I would like to see a more

balanced approach to the reduction in grazing pressure. All avenues should be explored before knee jerk reactions take place. Fencing has to be a tool that could be used to keep all species of herbivores out of a vulnerable area".

Clarify the evidence on climate change and its specific impact on deer;

"Opportunity needs to be taken to emphasise that research work needs to be carried out in relation to deer populations and climate change to provide a better understanding."

"….what is meant by "Climate change adaptation and mitigation is also likely to require deer management to contribute to wider land use issues"? What land use issues, what kind of management would be required, how could this help towards climate change mitigation significantly?"

Achieving a balanced and well-supported view regarding environmental damage caused by deer, compared to other causes;

"The pressure of deer ….needs to be kept in perspective".

"…the negativity towards deer has been displayed and not enough given to other causes of damage to the environment. It would appear to be ok for humans to cause damage by trampling but the deer has to be exterminated for trampling."

"Recent MLURI research indicates that much of the damage previously attributed to deer was in fact caused by stock - principally sheep. Many valuable plants in designated areas are actually damaged by blue hares rather than deer."

Fencing as a viable management tool;

"Fencing has to be a tool that could be used to keep all species of herbivores out of a vulnerable area."

Too much focus on designated sites and not enough on wider biodiversity;

"The wider biodiversity objectives of the strategy need a greater understanding and development by the agencies of shared objectives."

Adding value to deer management, venison production, and related economic benefits;

"Perhaps the DCS could look at setting up and possibly subsidising regional butchery, chilling, packing and grading operations"

This area is more relevant and possibly an area where value could be added".

The economic benefits of observing deer in its natural environment;

"Deer are an asset to Scotland. The high ground in Scotland has no other use or economic value since sheep and cattle are no longer worth keeping."

Managing public perceptions;

"Address public hostility to deer culling for fun/ sport. Many of the economic benefits of deer arise from sport stalking."

Appreciating the contribution of deer management to the rural economies;

"There needs to be an emphasis on securing rural jobs associated with deer management."

Integrating stalker activities with tourism and other economic activities;

"Consideration should also be given to added value to wild deer through continued development of venison marketing and wildlife tourism enterprises."

Achieve fairer distribution of the costs and benefits to stakeholders involved in deer management and tourism;

"It is difficult for those who bear the costs of deer management to share in the tourist revenue that the iconic species stimulates except for fees charged to recreational deerstalkers."

Assess disease risks associated with deer;

"Assess disease risks associated with deer and develop contingency plans to deal with those risks where possible."

Public education;

"Positive education of the public about deer and their management and their economic value and acceptable exploitation are all very important."

Risk and safety management;

"There needs to be a greater emphasis on road and traffic related issues".

Risk to the economic and social wellbeing of communities;

"It should be recognised that the social well being of deer managers and their families is in jeopardy if we continue exterminating deer to zero numbers in these rural communities."

How would the Strategy resolve the tension between enjoying living deer and killing them?;

"The phrase "broadening participation and enjoyment associated with wild deer" is too vague. The key issue is, we suggest, the determination of the long term balance between enjoying deer while they are alive and killing them. To leave this issue unresolved (and to refrain from aspiring to a resolution of this issue) is to leave the decision to market forces rather than to have a vision for the future economic development of Scotland."

Promoting ethical and humane alternatives to killings;

"We believe that social wellbeing would be better served by promoting ethical and humane alternatives as opposed to the killing of deer."

"The social wellbeing of people in Scotland would surely be better served by promoting a positive, respectful relationship between people and animals."

Vague definition of sustainable deer management;

"Nobody has or can 'determine what sustainable deer management' means. How will you 'ensure high levels of deer welfare'. What does 'reconcile diversity in land ownership etc' mean."

The importance of local knowledge;

"Sustainable deer management policies are best decided by local Deer Management Groups. This includes deer welfare, being mindful that they remain wild animals."

Collaborative management;

"Collaborative management is to be encouraged although sight should not be lost of who implements and funds deer management on the ground."

"Research should emanate from the practical requirements of deer managers rather than the competitive financial pressures prevailing within the research sector and all proposed projects should be developed with practitioner input. An objective should be the avoidance of duplication and a more co-ordinated approach is desirable."

One respondent felt that reconciling conflicting aims was the most important cross-cutting issue;

"Reconciling conflicting aims is the most difficult issue. In this context the value of fencing is always under-estimated in all Government strategies and this draft is no exception."

Shooting skills and hunting techniques to minimise animal suffering and to maximise economic benefits;

"There are strong moral and welfare reasons for deer of all species and both genders to have a close season."

"We believe that if deer are to be shot some of the main animal welfare concerns associated with deer stalking may be partly addressed by the use of 'culling pens' and this should be further pursued and assessed on animal welfare criteria compared to other methods of killing deer."

Strengthen the evidence base on the potential impact of the Strategy on wild deer welfare;

"…before new management techniques are implemented or changes are made to the current management scheme, research should be conducted specifically to assess the impact of such changes on deer welfare;

Facilitate effective engagement and capacity building of different stakeholders;

"The NPA agrees with the issues that have been identified in the table but the most important issue is not addressed. That is the need to establish a network of working deer management groups that have public and private sector buy-in and have the ability to undertake appropriate deer management planning and action on the ground. Many of the issues identified in the table cannot be addressed whilst deer management groups remain so variable in quality and scope."

"While the DCS may not have responsibility for these other approaches, the welcome attempt to achieve "joined-up government" requires that solutions to the problem are sought in cooperation with other agencies rather than from a purely deer point of view."

Encourage a holistic and balanced approach to cross-cutting challenges;

"If we are looking for cost effective deer management, natural biodiversity balance and an increase in tourist potential, then a holistic approach to deer management should be considered. This should consider all the alternatives, including re-introduction of natural predators. Naturally within our council, being within an urban setting, this alternative would not be as favourable. Such assessments must therefore be regionally or locally based."

Consider the value of fencing;

"The value of management tools such as fencing must be highlighted at every opportunity instead of the negative attitude that has been displayed by SNH to the use of fencing."

Promote animal welfare;

"I have marked cross-cutting as high priority due to the inclusion of the statement 'ensuring high levels of deer welfare' - this should include the use of the laws regarding close seasons. Animal welfare should come before all else."

Consult those with substantive knowledge of deer dynamics and deer management;

"Consulting with people lacking knowledge of deer does not help anyone let alone the deer. There might be an advantage in educating them."

Be more sensitive to local contexts, and rely less on national priority settings;

"It is a waste of time setting national priorities. The sustainable deer management objectives and the balance of economic V social v environment are different in different areas."

Identify and act upon urban deer management challenges;

"The need for urban deer management to be identified and its requirements and issues understood."

Integrate deer and rural land management;

"Deer managers have always managed deer as part of an integrated land management approach. Government agencies have in the past been unable to take such a holistic approach. This is to be encouraged in the future."

Did the Strategy identify adequate financial support for various actions?

"An enabler in all of this will be the provision of financial support for all issues…"

Encourage local business development;

"I can't emphasise enough the importance of a business on some highland estates of being able to let the lodges to visitors with the availability of deer stalking."

Develop clearer set of conflict resolution mechanisms, including more enhanced transparency in the process;

"…the guiding principles could say more about conflict resolution. The guiding principles encourage stakeholders to articulate objectives but do not say enough about resolving conflict between competing objectives."

Ensure that conflict resolution is objective, inclusive, and evidence-based;

"We agree that objectivity in judging the role and impacts of deer management is essential and that this should be evidence based."

"Most of the principles quoted are very laudable but it will only be possible to judge them by their execution. If additional stakeholders are to be involved in decision-making, their actual "stake" in wild deer management must be real and not artificially created."

Emphasise good working relationships between stakeholders, and greater degree of involvement from various agencies;

"The working relationship/conflict between deer managers, other land users and public agencies (policy makers) are particularly important."

Identify incompatible perspectives and interests;

"While it is important to encourage "mutual understanding" between interest groups (or, more importantly, between different interests of the public), it should be recognised that some interests (of the public) may not be compatible."

Recognise the importance of nature and natural processes;

"Nature has an amazing way of correcting itself, by compensating for, adjusting to external factors. We need to recognise this and work with nature, and not assume we are nature or we can overcome natural forces bigger than ourselves."

Identify locally appropriate geographical boundaries;

"Agreeing sound geographical boundaries to areas of agreed policy is crucial".

Appraising the comprehensive nature of objectives;

"The objectives leading to a high quality environment are comprehensive and welcome."

Develop more sensitive approach to managing deer control, movement, and species balance;

"There needs to be a concerted effort to cull the non native deer species in Scotland, sika, muntjac & Chinese water deer (if present)."

"While reduction in numbers is sometimes desirable, it is not the case that this is always so, and the last sentence of 6 (d) should be reworded accordingly. There should be areas where substantial populations of deer are encouraged to remain, as well as those dedicated to native woodlands or other habitat, where deer must be controlled, without any implication that one is necessarily always better than another."

Deer should be seen as integral to biodiversity;

" DCS should be more robustly defending deer as a legitimate part of our biodiversity, not agreeing to their status being portrayed constantly as a problem."

Deer and iconic landscapes of Scotland;

"Management of our open landscapes are what is again Iconic and should be seen as part of our cultural heritage and not as a problem because it has no trees visible."

Balancing environmental and sustainable economic development objectives;

"As part of this balance the socio-economic factors should also not be divorced from the environmental considerations, all need to be considered as part of a whole to find the balance, which will vary spatially across Scotland."

Accord deer welfare its proper priority;

"We welcome the statement that deer welfare will be considered in all management interventions. However, deer welfare must not only be considered but also given a high priority. We do not believe that deer are a resource to be exploited to the detriment of their welfare."

Identify quality assurance mechanisms to increase economic opportunities;

"There needs to be recognition that increasing the economic opportunities associated with wild deer can be achieved via further growth of quality assured sources of wild venison…"

Work to change negative attitudes towards deer;

"…the wording of 6.2 (b) implies an inferior ranking for deer when measured against agriculture and forestry. While this is sometimes the case, it is not always so, and the second sentence of this paragraph should be amended accordingly. It might also be considered that in certain areas, agriculture or forestry or tourism can cause economic loss to deer managers and a truly balanced approach would be welcome".

Promote the various qualities of venison;

"The food potential of the venison resource is also of primary importance. Deer stalking is already widely accessible to those who wish to try."

Enhance the supply chain of venison production;

"There have been considerable efforts to develop the market and supply chain for venison and this should be recognised, but there is also great potential for further development. ....on gaining the support of the key product outlets, collaboration is required and this should not be lost on the setting and reviewing of RPAC regional priorities in delivering the Scottish Rural Development Programme...."

Encourage a range of tourism, wildlife, and stalking activities;

"We would welcome support for developing markets for recreational stalking as an integral part of deer management in Scotland...recreational stalking by non full time employees is undertaken by a huge variety of people from all backgrounds and budgets...An emerging sector which should be encouraged is that of wildlife watching...."

Raise awareness of road safety issues through education and appropriate measures;

"The health issues again require education and proper monitoring, Road safety and deer related rta's can again be associated with proper use of fencing as a proper management tool to prevent ingress of deer to areas where they are not wanted, along with educating the motorist of correct speeds for danger areas."

Address venison quality control issues;

"Promoting venison as a healthy food is commendable but need to recognise that wild venison is not the same thing as the production of prime venison. Culling wild animals with a range of objectives will result in a variable and seasonal product with marketing limitations."

Promote venison as healthy food with appropriate use of scientific evidence;

"Venison can be more successfully promoted to the wider population as a healthy safe food if the rhetoric over wild venison's benefits can be backed up credibly and independently with robust traceability."

Disseminate information on ticks;

"More information on ticks and Lymes disease should be made available."

Incorporating various outcomes

"We welcome a strategy for sustainable deer management which incorporates the necessary environmental, economic and social wellbeing outcomes."

Encourage quality assurance and standards in deer management and related products;

"The Strategy should promote and encourage the role of quality assurance."

Support for the Strategy's emphasis on wildlife tourism and its economic benefits;

"The emphasis on deer related wildlife tourism is most welcome."

Educating the general public and public authorities about the economic benefits of deer management;

"A concerted effort is required to increase public understanding of deer management ....the insistence in this Consultative draft on a recognition of the public interest in deer management carries with it an obligation on the public and its representative bodies to share the responsibility for delivering sustainable deer management.....it must be acknowledged that a one size-fits-all approach is not appropriate".

Develop a more systemic method of monitoring progress on key actions;

"Possible indicators for minimising costs

associated with deer should include the value of agricultural and forestry damage."

"The NPA feels strongly that this section needs to better articulate how the key actions will be implemented. The table for each point needs to articulate clearly what mechanism will be used to try and achieve the action, who is the lead partner for each action, what is the timescale and what are the estimated costs."

One respondent commented on the evidence behind management decisions;

"Use sound science to underpin management decisions."

Several respondents had practical suggestions for additional or revised priorities, for instance:

"1. Include All relevant interests engaged in deer management

planning and implementation. 2. Achieve government targets on favourable conditions. 3. Protect carbon rich soils on non designated land. 4. Retain existing markets and develop new markets associated with wild deer. 5. Seek to capture fairly the economic value of wild deer among those involved in deer management."

Basing the indicators on sound evidence;

Indicators should be easily understood and based on indisputable evidence.

General agreement with the indicators identified in the strategy;

"These seem to form a very sensible starting point - time will tell if they provide sufficient coverage of the issues and actions".

Ensure that adequate statistics is available on road accidents;

"Number of reported road traffic accidents involving wild deer will be under reported especially in more rural areas as there is less likely to be anyone around to report to."

Take advantage of the knowledge of deer management groups;

"The coverage of deer management groups should be the sole group of bodies concerned and trusted to carry out management."

Incorporate data on species and habitats;

"Refer to specific BAP species and habitats with known impacts related to deer populations…"