The SGA is very grateful to Alba MSP Ash Regan for tabling 8 written Parliamentary questions on deer management in Scotland following a recent meeting with ourselves at Holyrood.
The Edinburgh Eastern MSP was interested to learn more about lowland deer management after we wrote to her, and other Parliament representatives, regarding the SGA's proposed Central Belt Pilot Scheme, see: https://www.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk/latest-news/2024/2024-06-19-new-proposal-to-tackle-rise-of-urban-deer.php
On the back of the discussions, Ash and her team tabled questions for Minister Jim Fairlie MSP on a broad range of topics.
Question S6W-30229 revealed that, out of 32 councils in Scotland, 27 do not manage deer.
This has significant consequences, particularly for rising roe deer populations in Scotland.
There was a question on venison and why practical deer managers were not adequately represented on the Deer Working Group, the panel who decided the key changes that are now being pushed through Parliament.
This is something the SGA wrote to the Environment Minister about at the time and, although the response suggests there was deer manager representation, the SGA maintains its stance that people managing deer in Scotland, who will be directly impacted by impending legislative changes, were not represented adequately on that policy-shaping panel.
The subject of high road traffic accidents in the Central Belt, highlighted previously by the SGA, here: https://www.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk/latest-news/2024/2024-05-10-how-750-000-deer-went-missing-in-scotland.php was also touched upon in question SW6-30230.
Again, this is why the SGA proposed Central Belt Pilot scheme has the potential to bring public benefit.
Finally, and a subject which Scottish Government has been told is very important to professional deer managers, question S6W-30225 asked what considerations the Government were giving to deer manager mental wellbeing when proposing to extend the female deer culling season to 31st March.
The SGA will continue to oppose this proposal. Our members find the prospect of culling and then gralloching heavily pregnant hinds to be against their beliefs and community values as well as being distressing for them and their families.
This is a policy that doesn’t need to happen and we will be urging for this to be dropped. Scottish Government needs to 'read the room' on this measure.
See our position statement on changes to female deer seasons and the controversial proposal to impose Deer Management Nature Restoration Orders (DMNROs), here: https://www.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk/latest-news/2024/2024-05-13-what-are-dmnros-and-what-is-our-position.php
