COMMENT
Monarch of the Glen
Great care must be taken in how we manage the future of our red deer WORDS ALAN COCHRANE, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH’S SCOTTISH EDITOR
O
ne of the most hackneyed words in the English language at present is ‘iconic’. I’ve no idea when it became so popular
but it’s everywhere. One of its more frequent uses is in relation to the red deer, which is said to be Scotland’s most ‘iconic’ species. It is truly a wonderful beast and there is no
more fantastic sight, while out tramping the hills, than to come across a herd charging through the heather or to spy a stag on the skyline roaring its challenges during the annual rut. As such it is entirely appropriate that the powers that be take great care in deciding how we manage the future of the red deer. The word ‘manage’ when used about a wild
creature may seem strange, but now that it has no natural predators, it is man that most influences the well-being or otherwise of our deer popula- tion. Having said that, the recent bitter winter weather wreaked havoc with deer numbers but, given the animal-loving tendencies of the general public, also generated increased public awareness of the species.
Variety of options The Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill seeks to update the 50-year-old legislation covering red deer and has thrown up a variety of options that all seek to find a solution to the one basic problem, or at least the one basic problem that’s been identified by officialdom, namely
dramatic increase in numbers in recent years. Estimates vary but there are reckoned to be about 450,000 red deer on our hills – too many, say the experts. The high fences, the traditional way of
keeping them out of forestry plantations, are now seen as a blot on the landscape as well as
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‘The kind of wet weather gear worn for a day on the hill is sufficient. Oh yes, that and a subservient personality – always do ‘whit yer telt’ by the stalker.’
a menace to grouse and capercaillie popula- tions and so the cry goes up ‘Kill the deer.’ Mass culls – massacres, more like – have been highly controversial, but stalking estates have been accused of being far too dilatory in keeping numbers down. Owners are accused of being quite happy to maintain high numbers so as not to disappoint their paying guests.
End close season And so the bill is seeking to find a way through this tricky subject. One way would be to end the close season, thus allowing both stags and hinds to be shot at any time of the year. But stalkers are vehemently opposed, saying that this might mean them having to undertake the hugely unpleasant
task of shooting pregnant hinds,
forcing them to ‘gralloch’ fully-grown foetuses or leaving orphaned calves, too young to fend for themselves, to starve on the hill. An open season for stags is also unlikely to be approved, but a much longer shooting season – with local variations throughout the country – may well come in. Landowners are already allowed to cull deer at any time of the year if they’re causing damage to crops or property. One option that’s never tried, given the unre-
alistic sentimentality towards animals amongst much of the British public, is to increase the interest in stalking. Contrary to popular imag- ination it is not a costly sport and, given that stalking estates normally insist on guests using the estate’s rifles, requires no expensive equip- ment. The kind of wet weather gear worn for a day on the hill – providing it’s not of the brightly- coloured variety – is sufficient. Oh yes, that and a subservient personality – always do ‘whit yer telt’ by the stalker. Additionally, a campaign to extol the virtues of venison wouldn’t go amiss, either. It’s ridiculous that most of the deer meat from this country is exported. There would be no talk about of over-large red deer herds if more people ate the stuff. One side issue of the new legislation that
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might well ruffle feathers is the proposal for more controls over those who do the shooting. At present firearms’ licences are only refused if people are shown to be of an unsound mind or don’t keep their rifles locked securely away. So- called ‘grandfathers’ rights’ – long association with firearms – are currently seen as sufficient grounds for having a stalking rifle. But there are fears that skill levels in some parts of the country are less than desired. As a result a new system of formal training may be brought in. However, such is the importance of the red
deer to Scotland’s countryside and to its repu- tation as a nation proud of its wild places and native species, that it does deserve the special attention that this legislation is giving it.
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