Scotland's deer management update

Deer management is still very much on the agenda for the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government recently responded to questions on deer management, raised by Rachael Hamilton (Scottish Conservatives) and Monica Lennon (Scottish Labour).

To the question, “Which forthcoming Bill will contain proposals to modernise deer management, in light of its managing deer for climate and nature consultation”, Jim Fairlie SNP MSP replied: “The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to modernising deer management to tackle high deer numbers, specifically in order to help us to achieve our biodiversity and carbon objectives”.

The consultation, which closed in March 2024, sought views on proposed legislative changes to Scotland’s system of deer management, including a carbon emissions land tax. The Trust believes any response to the outcome of the consultation is unlikely before the end of 2024.

Jim Fairlie also explained that the Scottish Government is working on the Deer Working Group recommendations that do not require primary legislation. As set out in the Climate Change Action policy document, the government is also developing a package of incentive schemes for deer management to be piloted across Scotland.

These local schemes are planned to be implemented this year to test different approaches to incentives and to better understand the barriers to deer management. 

Arianne Burgess MSP also urged the First Minister to remain committed to introducing a Natural Environment Bill within the current parliamentary session, arguing that Scottish Green MSPs are deeply concerned about its status under the new government.

She stressed that the Bill was vital for setting legally-binding targets to restore Scotland’s nature and to introduce “much-needed updates to the law on deer management legislation, environmental assessment and national parks”.

• Find out more about the Trust's approach to deer management, and why we sometimes leave deer carcasses on the hill.