Why numbers of deer managers could halve 

Proposals in the Scottish government’s draft Natural Environment Bill could have damaging consequences for deer management in Scotland, the UK’s leading shooting and countryside organisations have warned.

Giving evidence to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee at the Scottish parliament, representatives from BASC and the Countryside Alliance (CA) warned that the Bill’s provisions risk undermining Scotland’s ability to meet its own deer cull and conservation targets.

BASC Scotland’s director Peter Clark said the proposals – which include mandatory training for all deerstalkers – lack clear definitions and could halve the number of active deer managers in Scotland.

“This legislation introduces significant flaws, particularly around the powers over intervention on deer management based on a vague definition of ‘nature restoration’,” he said. “BASC has serious concerns around the introduction of mandatory training and the consequences this could have.

“It will create unnecessary barriers to entry, especially for recreational stalkers, at a time when we need more – not fewer – people involved in deer control.”

Mr Clark also urged the Scottish government to support the venison supply chain and make use of community-based stalking. “We’ve long advocated for community-integrated deer management using recreational local stalkers, which is a missed opportunity in the Bill. The government must also invest in larders and processing infrastructure to handle increased venison output,” he added.

Echoing BASC’s position, the Countryside Alliance criticised the proposals as impractical and out of step with the realities of deer management on the ground. Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at the CA, said: “It’s clear that stakeholders feel the current proposals will hinder, not help, Scotland’s efforts to control its deer population and support nature recovery. This Bill risks alienating the very people doing the vital work on the ground.”

The CA raised concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding the Bill’s enforcement powers, particularly regarding the potential for government agencies to forcibly intervene in private land management without clear benchmarks or accountability.

As the Bill moves forward, both organisations are urging ministers to revisit the proposed measures and work more closely with the deer management community to deliver a workable, evidence-based policy.

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