NatureScot seeks to recover its deer management costs

NatureScot is seeking a stakeholder response on proposals to fully recover the cost incurred to process and issue specific wildlife management licences. 

Licences that would likely be included in the cost recovery initiative would be those that permit the holder to shoot deer at night and out of season. 

Rural organisations, including the Countryside Alliance (CA), have made their positions on the proposed cost recovery plan clear, stating that wildlife management licences should not generally be charged for, as the majority of them benefit the public in a number of ways. 

The CA argues that conservation, biodiversity, net zero and tree damage are all firmly on the Scottish government’s radar, and most of the licences that come under its remit benefit at least one of these. 

Chris Dalton, six-times UK Pro Stalker of the Year, told ST: “My views on the direction the Scottish government is taking in moving deer to little more than pests are well known. I now learn that they are considering charging for the authorisations to achieve this; you really could not make this stuff up.” 

Have your say at bit.ly/naturescotdeer before Wednesday, 20 November.