Freedom of Information Request - Ptarmigan shot outside of the closed season
Date: 08 January 2025
Our ref: SIR178280/A4881482
Information Request – Ptarmigan shot outside of the closed season
Your Request
The number of ptarmigan shot outside the closed season in Scotland during the calendar years 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Our Response
We have discussed your request with our Licensing team, who have indicated that NatureScot has not issued any licences to control ptarmigan in the closed season and we do not hold any information about their control out with this.
As we do not hold the information that you have requested we must under the EIRs apply the exemption 10(4)(a) (Information not held) to your request.
However, you may be interested in contacting the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust who collect information on the numbers of ptarmigan and other gamebirds shot for the National Gamebag Census - GWCT's website about ptarmigan,
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
