Shooting organisation warns new Bill could halve number of deer stalkers

Plans to change the law to require everyone shooting deer in Scotland to have a “baseline competence” could cut the number of deer stalkers working in Scotland by 50%, a shooting body has warned.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), which describes itself as being the UK’s largest shooting organisation, spoke out against proposals in the Scottish Government’s new Natural Environment Bill.

The legislation places a duty on Holyrood ministers to set legally binding targets for nature restoration and also aims to modernise the powers of the authorities in charge of Scotland’s national parks.

In addition to these, it proposes reforms to the way that deer are managed – with the new law making clear that “baseline competence for everyone shooting deer in Scotland will be required”.

BASC Scotland director, Peter Clark, said that could result in “mandatory training” being brought in, as he hit out at “draconian measures” in the legislation which he said would “place an unacceptable burden on Scotland’s deer managers”.

He insisted: “We do not consider deer to be a national problem – rather, we would have liked to see the Scottish Government look at issues with certain species in certain areas.”

Mr Clark added that the Bill “seeks to introduce mandatory training through a baseline competence for deer management, the effect of which could be to effectively halve the number of active deer stalkers in Scotland overnight to less than 7,500”.

He said: “The Scottish Government cannot keep introducing more regulation on deer management without the necessary incentivisation for deer managers.

“BASC is reviewing the content of the Bill, and will continue to voice our members’ concerns over the Government’s damaging proposals.”

However, NatureScot chair Colin Galbraith said that the “proposed changes for deer legislation will help improve efforts to restore priority areas such as native woodlands and peatlands by reducing the impacts of deer grazing and trampling”.

Speaking about the legislation as a whole, rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “Our proposals in this Bill can contribute to the Scottish Government’s priority of tackling the climate emergency.

“The twin crises of climate change and nature loss are interdependent and need to be tackled together.”

Ms Gougeon added: “Improving our biodiversity is one of the best chances we have to adapt to climate change and ensure we can continue to enjoy nature’s benefits, on which we all depend.

“However, government cannot do this alone – we must work in partnership with, and use the expertise of, land managers, farmers and crofters.

“We are determined to promote biodiversity, to adapt to climate change, and to ensure we can continue to enjoy the benefits of Scotland’s wonderful nature – and this Bill will help achieve that.”