Scottish deer cull targets are 'nonsense', say stalkers

A long-standing intention by the Scottish government to implement a limit of 10 red deer per square kilometre across parts of Scotland has come under fire from estate managers and stalkers

- THOMAS LINDY NISSEN

The Deer Working Group recommended as far back as 2019 that NatureScot adopted the figure as an upper benchmark for acceptable densities of the iconic species over large areas of open range in the Highlands.

A report commissioned by the Scottish government in 2020 estimated that there were around a million deer in Scotland, with densities ranging up to 20 deer per square kilometre. But most professionals agree that the deer population and density is now much higher than that, with some estimates putting it as high as 30 deer per square kilometre in certain areas.