skip to main content

Deer management methods

The management of deer in Scotland is carried out by various groups using various different methods. Not all of the methods mentioned below are currently in use. Some are under consideration as a potential deer management tool and may be subject to extensive trials to assess their effectiveness.

Stalking

Stalking is the act of tracking prey, in this case deer, silently, without the animal being aware of your presence, to kill the animal humanely. The skills involved in stalking can be traced back to a time when deer and other animals were one of the few forms of food and you needed to get close to the animals without disturbing them.

Stalking as a profession developed in Scotland when landowners in the 19th century employed local people with a thorough knowledge of the land, the wildlife and plant life to manage populations of deer for the benefit of sporting interests. At that time, deer populations were lower than the present day and stocks were allowed to increase to support lucrative sporting activities - bringing wealthy people to an area to hunt deer for leisure.

Nowadays stalkers are employed for much the same purpose. However a crucial part of the role now involves the careful management of deer populations to identify unhealthy stock - deer suffering from disease, malnourishment, injury. These animals are stalked before being humanely shot. The aim should be to help maintain a healthy population and ensure that numbers of deer meet sporting requirements, in a way that is in balance with the natural environment.

Team culling

Stalkers often act on their own when culling deer as part of deer management. However, there are times when stalkers work in groups to cull deer effectively and efficiently. This is known as team culling.

Team culling is beneficial when deer densities are high and/or deer move regularly over a large area, from one area of land to another. Stalkers employed in these different areas can benefit if team culling is used, with resources shared and the task of culling divided among a larger group or team.

Fencing

In Scotland deer fencing has been used as a tool to manage deer densities and movements.  It can:

  • allow different land uses to co-exist whether within or or between landholdings;
  • be used to protect public safety;
  • allow changes to habitat, particularly woodland, within a relatively short time.

The construction of a deer fence can, however, have an unintentional impact on other interests including deer welfare, public safety, biodiversity, landscape, cultural heritage and access. The following points should be addressed when considering the use of fencing:

  • The option to control deer should be evaluated.
  • The fencing design must minimise disruption to deer welfare, public safety, biodiversity, landscape, cultural heritage and access.
  • It should be part of a wider programme of deer management and should not be left erected for longer than is necessary.
  • Any impacts on the wider deer range and particularly adjacent properties and local communities should be considered.
  • Deer dependent on the fenced off area should be culled.
  • Approval or financial support for fencing will be dependent on identifying and minimising any negative impacts.

For further guidance visit the Joint Agency Deer Fencing Guidance on our website.

Capture for culling (method subject to ongoing trials)

Capture for culling has been used for land managers and owners throughout Scotland. Trials into this culling technique will continue to assess its effectiveness as a deer management tool and to assist in developing Best Practice Guidance. Best Practice Guidance is essential to ensure deer welfare is safeguarded. 

The overall aims of the technique are to minimise the disruption to deer and to carry out culling in a way which is humane, efficient and protects deer welfare.  The technique could provide a number of benefits within a culling operation including:

  • minimising wounding to deer;
  • minimising the risk of calves being orphaned;
  • reducing the risk of non-target deer being culled.

The technique cannot be considered as the only deer management technique.