Freedom of Information Request - Deer Management Groups and cull data
Date: 14 February 2025
Our ref: SIR178834/A5000018
Information Request – Deer Management Groups and cull data
Your Request
Please provide cull figures from all Deer Management Groups for the last three years, broken down by Group and by month. The figures should also be split, as far as information is held, by species of deer, sex, age, and whether or not there was a calf involved.
Please comment on the trend of these figures and indicate whether NatureScot anticipates that this trend will continue or change.
Our Response
We have discussed your request with our Wildlife Management Team, and responded to each part of your request as follows:
Please provide cull figures from all Deer Management Groups for the last three years, broken down by group and by month. The figures should also be split, as far as information is held, by species of deer, sex, ag, and whether or not there was a calf involved.
The data is collated throughout the season, not monthly, so we have provided the information by the last three cull seasons (i.e. April – March) rather than annually or by month as requested. The information relating to this part of your request is attached separately to this response.
You should be aware that NatureScot do not receive statutory cull returns from all properties within a DMG area, so the figures provided are likely to be an under-representation of the total culls undertaken within those areas.
Please comment on the trend of these figures and indicate whether NatureScot anticipates that this trend will continue or change.
Unfortunately, we are unable to comply with this part of your request, as you are asking us for comment/opinion, and the access to information legislation only applies to information that has been recorded in some way.
This means that as we do not hold any recorded information for this part of your request, we must apply the following exemption 10(4)(a) (Information not held).
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
Document downloads
Due to accessibility issues the attached information, referenced above, is available on request by contacting the FOI team at [email protected]. Please reference the case number (starting with SIR).
