Chairmans Blog

February 20th

Many gamekeepers and stalkers will be having a well deserved rest after spending some very long days and nights working throughout the season and there is only a small window before it starts all over again.

January 25th

Why oh why is Scotland the only country in the UK to still have the ban on tail docking of working dogs?

December 20th

Just back in from ferreting a plantation of young larch and scots pine trees. I am soaked to the skin and frozen. My daughter is visiting us with her boyfriend and I thought it would be a good chance for him to see some different animal tracks in the snow.

NEW DEER LAW COMES INTO BEING ON 1ST JANUARY

On 1st January 2012, a new piece of legislation comes into effect in Scotland which gives continued legal effect to the current close seasons in place for deer in this country.
The move has been made as a clarification following changes to the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, necessitated by the WANE Act.
The new Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011 will formalise the existing close seasons for deer.
The order sets out the periods in each year when it is an offence under Section 5 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 for a person to take or willfully kill or injure deer.
The new order revokes and replaces the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 1984.

The close seasons are as follows: Fallow Deer (Male), 1st May to 31st July. (Female) 16th February to 20th October.
Red Deer (Male): 21st October to 30th June. (Female) 16th February to 20th October.
Red/Sika deer hybrid: (Male) 21st October to 30th June. (Female) 16th February to 20th October.
Roe Deer: (Male) 21st October to 31st March. (Female) 1st April to 20th October.
Sika deer: (Male) 21st October to 30th June. (Female) 16th February to 20th October.

The 1996 Act provides it is not an offence during these periods to take, kill or injure a deer when an authorisation is granted under Section 5, where section 14 (limitation of criminal liability) is applicable or where it is for a purpose specified in section 25 (action taken in order to prevent suffering).