Gamekeepers, ghilles and stalkers manage land for biodiversity and to support country sport activities and experiences renowned the world over. The value of these activities to the economy of Scotland can be seen below.
- The economic value of stalking, shooting and freshwater angling to the Scottish Economy is £200 million per year (1).
- The value of Golf Tourism to the Scottish Economy is £220 million per year (2). The value of adventure sports like mountain biking, rafting and kayaking to the Scottish Economy is £178 million per year. The value of ski-ing to the Scottish Economy is £30 million per year (3).
- Over one quarter of visitors who took part in country sports in 2004 also went shopping, sight-seeing, visited historic sites, enjoyed walking and watched wildlife (4).
- Almost a quarter of visitors who took part in pheasant/grouse shooting in Scotland in 2004 also played golf during their visit (5).
- Scotland covers 7.8 million hectares of land, of which 4.4 million are influenced by shooting. 0.7 million hectares are managed directly for shooting.
- In Scotland, 400 000 people participate in country sports (6).
- The total cost of deer management in Scotland in 2005 amounted to £105 million. (7)
- Two thirds of that spend was retained in Scotland.
- Deer Management in Scotland supports the equivalent of 2520 paid full-time jobs in Scotland, providing much needed employment in economically fragile communities.
- The value to the economy of that employment is £70.4 million.
- The average operational spend on deer management per land holding was £54, 468 per annum, with 47 per cent of that going on staff wages.