Summary of Licensing Data
Updated: March 2026
NatureScot issues licences for certain specific purposes which are detailed in legislation and which would otherwise constitute an offence. More detail on the licensing process and protected species can be found on our webpages.
We are committed to making as much of our data as accessible as possible to all those who have an interest in our licensing function including members of the public, other organisations and agencies. We are working over the coming months to make more of our licensing data available. All personal details and identifiers have been removed to ensure compliance with GDPR and no sensitive environmental details, such as the location of nesting or breeding sites, are included.
The number of licences issued for each month for different licence types is shown at the bottom of the page. Data is available for 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Data from licences that contain the activity to lethally control animals and birds is summarised at the bottom of the page for the time period June 2019 to end of 2025. Please note that a single licence may cover multiple activities and species so this list does not reflect the number of licences issued or the actual number of animals and birds controlled, which is much lower.
The actual number of animals and birds controlled under licences is included in our licence return data. Where data on returns for licences is missing this is being pursued by our Compliance Team.
Details on how to use the workbooks are set out within the files. For any queries please get in contact with the licensing team at [email protected]. We are open to feedback so please get in contact with your comments.
Hunting with Dogs
In 2023 NatureScot began issuing licences for where a person is using a dog(s) to hunt a wild mammal for preventing serious damage to livestock, woodland or crops, or for an environmental benefit. Details of this licence type can be found on our Hunting with dogs and licensing page. The number of licences issued for hunting with dogs is shown below for the period November 2023 to 31 January 2026. This data will be updated monthly though may be delayed during busy periods.
2026
| Month | New licences for preventing serious damage to livestock, woodland or crops | New Licences for environmental benefit | Amended/Renewed Licences |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 0 | 12 |
2025
| Month | New licences for preventing serious damage to livestock, woodland or crops | New Licences for environmental benefit | Amended/Renewed Licences |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9 | 0 | 6 |
| February | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| March | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| April | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| May | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| June | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| July | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| August | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| September | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| October | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| November | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| December | 0 | 0 | 3 |
2024
| Month | New licences for preventing serious damage to livestock, woodland or crops | New Licences for environmental benefit | Amended/Renewed Licences |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| February | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| March | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| April | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| May | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| June | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| July | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| August | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| September | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| October | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| November | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| December | 4 | 0 | 14 |
2023
| Month | New licences for preventing serious damage to livestock, woodland or crops | New Licences for environmental benefit | Amended Licences |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| December | 4 | 0 | 0 |
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