Freedom of Information Request - North Ross Deer Management Group
Date: 18 February 2025
Our ref: SIR178741/A4984521
Information Request – North Ross Deer Management Group
Your Request & Our Response
We have discussed your request with the Wildlife Management team, and we have responded to each of your questions.
I have been informed that Nature Scot recently contacted members of North Ross Deer Management Group regarding hind culls and offered them the use of a helicopter to access areas of their Estates to cull hinds.
Who are the members of the North Ross Deer Management Group?
North Ross Deer Management Group (North Ross DMG) are a membership organisation, and as such keep their own membership details. NatureScot are a member as a landowner and attend in an advisory capacity. Up to date membership information should be available from North Ross DMG.
You may also find the North Ross Deer Management Plan – 2019/2024 helpful.
Who in NatureScot decided that this was appropriate and for what reason?
We have annual training programmes to ensure Health and Safety compliance for staff. Elements of our helicopter training require annual refresher for census and load handling. Our training practice and review of Risk Assessments relating to helicopter deer culling operations takes place on a 3-year period (subject to operational need). A briefing was provided to NatureScot’s Senior Leadership Team, and board members. Planning and budgeting approval was undertaken through the Wildlife Management Activity headed by Head of Wildlife Management, Donald Fraser Approval was given by Robbie Kernahan – Director Green Economy.
The reasons given for approval were as follows:
- To ensure NatureScot operational staff undertake required essential Health and Safety training on the use of helicopters to support deer management.
- Review, develop and refine staff guidance and risk assessments and ensure full compliance with helicopter company operation procedures.
- Allow land managers to target deer in remote areas where access and carcass extraction is difficult and is a barrier to delivering DMP population targets.
- Support targeted reduction culls agreed through the relevant Deer Management Plans to deliver habitat condition.
- Raise awareness and improved understanding of the use of helicopters in deer management for deployment of stalkers and extraction of carcasses
- Demonstrate and promote collaborative working approaches to deer management with eNGO and private sector
To whom was the offer extended?
It was offered to all members of the North Ross DMG
Who took up the offer?
Eight estates from the North Ross DMG took up the offer, they were as follows:
Glencalvie, Alladale, Langwell, Ledmore, Strathvaich, Croick, Corriemulzie, Leckmelm Hill
Did any staff from NatureScot or FLS take part in the culling?
Over the course of the four days seven members of staff from NatureScot took part in culling operations, and an additional five members of staff were involved for continuing professional development purposes, relating to lardering/logistics of operations. No members of staff from FLS were involved.
How many deer of each species were culled (stags, hinds and calves)?
1 Stag
163 Hinds
35 Calves
All were red deer.
Were the deer culled extracted, or left in-situ?
Where safe, practical and suitable for human consumption the deer were extracted. 16 Carcasses (9 hinds and 7 calves) were not recovered as agreed with local estate staff and were left on the hill in line with WDBP guidance.
How much did these flights cost? Please provide a breakdown per trip and by date.
There were flights over four days in January 2025, dates and costs are provided below:
Monday 6 January – North Ross - £7,559.88
Tuesday 7 January – North Ross - £8,488.20
Wednesday 8 January – North Ross - £7,908.00
Thursday 9 January – North Ross - £8,952.36
Total £32,908.44
Are any more such flights planned?
No further flights are planned.
What were the deer culls for Sika and red deer in that deer management group area for the last three seasons (split into stags, hinds and calves)?
| Season | Deer Species | Male | Female | Calf |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Red | 706 | 740 | 267 |
| 2021-2022 | Roe | 172 | 147 | 86 |
| 2021-2022 | Sika | 558 | 549 | 266 |
| 2022-2023 | Fallow | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022-2023 | Red | 759 | 860 | 357 |
| 2022-2023 | Roe | 123 | 94 | 67 |
| 2022-2023 | Sika | 494 | 411 | 168 |
| 2023-2024 | Fallow | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023-2024 | Red | 899 | 1752 | 652 |
| 2023-2024 | Roe | 110 | 122 | 73 |
| 2023-2024 | Sika | 511 | 384 | 226 |
Has this been offered to any other Deer Management Group?
We have not offered this to any other Deer Management Group (DMG) for the 2024/25 cull season
If so, what are the specific reasons for each of the DMG to be offered the use of a funded helicopter?
Not Applicable, the offer to North Ross DMG was to support stalker deployment and carcass extraction from remote and hard to access areas linked with high habitat impacts.
If so, what are the costs for each of those DMGs?
Not Applicable, as no other DMGs were offered this for the 2024/25 cull season
If so, what culls were achieved in each of those DMGs?
Not Applicable as no other DMGs were offered this for the 2024/25 cull season
What is the total cost in the last three years for helicopters provided by NatureScot for estates to carry out deer culls?
Luss Estate in January 2022 over 2.5 days at a total cost of £27,240.96
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
