Land managers in Scotland have been given more power to help control the deer population, including the use of ‘night sights’ to cull deer in the dark.
Updated rules will also allow authorised land managers to cull male deer across a longer period of the year and use ammunition which is less damaging to venison products.
Biodiversity minister Lorna Slater has said these changes will allow deer to be managed in a way that is “beneficial to our environment and the rural economies that rely upon deer”.
“The changes to rules on ammunition will also boost Scotland’s venison sector,” she added.
“Lead is toxic to humans and its presence can spoil venison products. That’s why we are now allowing land managers to use different types of ammunition. This will make more venison available to both foreign and domestic markets.”
Mike Daniels, vice-convenor of Scottish Environment LINK Deer Group, commented: “We strongly support the Scottish Government’s proposals to improve the flexibility of deer management, based on the independent scrutiny of the Deer Working Group and its final recommendations.
“More than ever we need to make all of the tools available to Scotland’s skilled and experienced deer managers to deliver the urgent changes required for nature and for all of us.”
