Pilot schemes launched to control Scotland’s ‘unsustainable’ deer population

Two incentive schemes aimed at controlling Scotland’s ‘unsustainable’ deer population have been launched, Scotland’s nature agency has announced.
The pilot schemes will see qualified and eligible deer stalkers in parts of the central belt and Highland receive payments for additional deer culled over and above the current level in each area.
According to NatureScot, deer populations have increased in number and spread in range over the last 50 years, and have reached a point where they are damaging biodiversity and hampering attempts to tackle climate change.
It said an estimated annual increase of 25% in the national cull, or 50,000 deer, is needed over several years if ambitious Government biodiversity targets are to be met.