Written Question · S6W-03492 · Session 6
What records Forestry and Land Scotland kept in 2020 to ensure that mothers killed were matched to calves killed; how it ensured that all a…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what records Forestry and Land Scotland kept in 2020 to ensure that mothers killed were matched to calves killed; how it ensured that all alternatives were tried first in every forest, in keeping with the conditions for an out-of-season culling licence for deer; what information it has on whether this approach was taken prior to the out-of-season dear cull in September 2021, and what its position is on whether such licences are needed in all national forests.
The answer
All data collected associated with deer culled on National Forests and Land (NFL) is recorded in FLS Wildlife Management System (WMS) database. The following table is derived from this database. This is managed by robust supervision of cullers and checks to match the juvenile GPS data to the adult female GPS data; however there are many factors that may influence the ratio demonstrated in the following below.
Species
No. of Adult Females
No. of Juveniles
Ratio
Sept 2020
Red Hinds
287
210
0.73
Sept 2020
Roe does
327
239
0.73
Sept 2020
Sika Hinds
116
107
0.9
Survey data showing current high background levels of resident and inwardly migrating deer across NFL coupled with associated damage level data requires FLS to reduce deer numbers/densities at local and landscape-scale across NFL.
The FLS approach to reduced deer fencing, increased culling and the use of Out of Season shooting has been developed over many years of professional and large-scale management of all four species of deer, across a very wide range of terrains and habitats across Scotland. This has been an iterative process, where alternatives have in the past been considered and tested and informed by the continuous gathering of data from a number of rolling survey programmes such as deer damage impact assessments.
The scale of Scotland’s national forests and land means that FLS takes a pragmatic and cost effective approach to deer management to deliver multiple public benefits and sustainable land management.
FLS’s comprehensive deer management database WMS and new ARCGIS dashboard (in development), records a very large volume of information relevant to how FLS assesses the need for culling and the need for Out of Season authorisations. This includes deer damage impact levels, deer density levels (including on neighbouring ground where available), and an extensive history of the exact location of culling and relevant biometrics for each deer shot on NFL.
Wild deer are mobile, can travel considerable distances and need to feed 365 days of the year, day and night, and FLS therefore has to utilise all available, legal and approved means in order to protect its tree crops and other natural assets throughout all twelve months of the year. This includes using Out of season, Night Shooting and thermal imaging equipment.
FLS’s Out of Season culling operation necessarily covers the whole estate. Without the ongoing, diligent application of Out of Season authorisations, the resultant deer damage impacts would quickly build-up and prevent FLS from delivering many of its management objectives across NFL.
Species
No. of Adult Females
No. of Juveniles
Ratio
Sept 2020
Red Hinds
287
210
0.73
Sept 2020
Roe does
327
239
0.73
Sept 2020
Sika Hinds
116
107
0.9
Survey data showing current high background levels of resident and inwardly migrating deer across NFL coupled with associated damage level data requires FLS to reduce deer numbers/densities at local and landscape-scale across NFL.
The FLS approach to reduced deer fencing, increased culling and the use of Out of Season shooting has been developed over many years of professional and large-scale management of all four species of deer, across a very wide range of terrains and habitats across Scotland. This has been an iterative process, where alternatives have in the past been considered and tested and informed by the continuous gathering of data from a number of rolling survey programmes such as deer damage impact assessments.
The scale of Scotland’s national forests and land means that FLS takes a pragmatic and cost effective approach to deer management to deliver multiple public benefits and sustainable land management.
FLS’s comprehensive deer management database WMS and new ARCGIS dashboard (in development), records a very large volume of information relevant to how FLS assesses the need for culling and the need for Out of Season authorisations. This includes deer damage impact levels, deer density levels (including on neighbouring ground where available), and an extensive history of the exact location of culling and relevant biometrics for each deer shot on NFL.
Wild deer are mobile, can travel considerable distances and need to feed 365 days of the year, day and night, and FLS therefore has to utilise all available, legal and approved means in order to protect its tree crops and other natural assets throughout all twelve months of the year. This includes using Out of season, Night Shooting and thermal imaging equipment.
FLS’s Out of Season culling operation necessarily covers the whole estate. Without the ongoing, diligent application of Out of Season authorisations, the resultant deer damage impacts would quickly build-up and prevent FLS from delivering many of its management objectives across NFL.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-03492 by reference.