Hill-goers urged to check stalking routes as stag season peaks

Deer managers moving into the busiest weeks of the stag season are asking hill-goers to plan their routes using the ‘Heading for the Scottish Hills’ service, in a joint call from NatureScot, the Association of Deer Management Groups (ADMG) and Mountaineering Scotland. The first three weeks of October are the peak of the stag cull, with the later weeks of the hind season, which runs from 21 October to 15 February, the next pressure point.

How does Heading for the Scottish Hills help stalkers?

The service, part of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code website, lets estates post where stalking is taking place so that walkers and climbers can plan routes that avoid disturbing it. More than 4,600 people used the pages in the past year, most of them during the autumn peak.

Ali Tait, NatureScot people and places officer for access and visitor management, said: “By using this service, people are planning hill routes that reduce the chance of disturbing stalking, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. The service is still growing, and we would encourage landowners and land managers to sign up if they haven’t already.”

NatureScot notes that fewer routes are affected on Saturdays, and that stalking does not usually take place on Sundays.

Culls under pressure to deliver

The call comes with cull targets carrying more weight than ever. Tom Turnbull, chairman of the ADMG, said: “Deer managers are under increasing pressure to complete culls in line with the objectives of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026. The Heading for the Scottish Hills service provides a vital tool in enabling deer managers to deliver targets for climate and biodiversity. It is greatly appreciated when signage is followed and advice is taken by those taking access, thereby limiting disturbance at this important time of year.”

Catriona Davies, access and conservation officer at Mountaineering Scotland, said: “Autumn is a fantastic time to get out into the hills and, as responsible access users, we need to be aware it is also an important time of year for deer management.”

What happens next

Estates and deer managers who are not yet on the service are encouraged to sign up ahead of the October peak, and stalkers can expect the heaviest hill traffic on Saturdays through the autumn. Hill-goers can check affected routes before setting out via the Scottish Outdoor Access Code website.