Scottish wildlife trap licensing not expected until 2027, review says

Licensing of wildlife traps under Scotland’s Wildlife Management and Muirburn Act is now not expected until 2027, according to the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s latest annual review. The review, published on 7 October, maps a year of regulatory change for keepers and land managers, from muirburn licensing taking full effect to new deer management requirements.

What does the delay mean for keepers?

Section 7 of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 provides for a licensing scheme covering certain wildlife traps, including spring traps and wild bird traps. The commission’s review records that the scheme is now not expected until 2027, a year later than many practitioners had planned for. Until it commences, trap users continue to operate under the existing rules, and keepers gain a further season to prepare for the training and registration requirements the scheme will bring.

Which rules are already in force?

The review confirms that the Act’s muirburn licensing scheme was expected to be fully effective by 15 September 2026, replacing the Hill Farming Act 1946 regime, with consequential amendments pointing older legislation at the new Muirburn Code taking effect from 10 October. The ban on glue traps has been in force since 1 July 2026, and grouse moor licensing continues under the 2024 Act alongside NatureScot’s code of practice.

On grouse moors, the commission welcomes the code’s reference to wildlife welfare but says it “remains concerned that there is still no best practice guide available to provide practical guidance on wildlife welfare in management decisions”.

Deer and falconry changes are recorded too

The review notes that the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 implements Deer Working Group recommendations, including a new offence of shooting deer with a shotgun without prior authorisation and a fit and competent requirement attached to night shooting and close season authorisations. It also records the new licensing purpose under the Wildlife and Countryside Act that allows falconers to take mountain hares with birds of prey under a NatureScot licence, a provision ministers initially opposed and then supported at Stage 3.

What happens next?

The trap licensing scheme is expected to commence in 2027, with detail from NatureScot to follow. Keepers working muirburn now do so under the new licences, and deer managers should note the first commencement dates under the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act fall on 26 October.