
Funding
There are several funding options to support deer management.
The Scottish Government’s main programme of financial support for rural Scotland is the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP).
SRDP schemes include the Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) and the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS).
You must contact a NatureScot Wildlife Management Officer for advice before you submit an application. Please use the regional NatureScot SRDP mailbox.
Moorland Management option
The Moorland Management option aims to benefit a range of moorland habitats, by maintaining appropriate levels of wild and domestic stock. It is also intended to protect sensitive peatland areas at risk of soil erosion from herbivore trampling and vehicle tracking.
This is an entry option for all upland management schemes. You must prepare and submit a moorland management plan which details current deer numbers, their location and current and proposed deer cull targets.
Visit Rural Payments’ Moorland Management page.
Additional support
Where deer are affecting designated sites, the following additional support is available.
Open-range Deer Management
Open-range Deer Management aims to support the extra effort that is required to reduce deer numbers to an agreed level.
This must be combined with the Moorland Management option.
Visit Rural Payments’ Open-range Deer Management page.
Upland Habitat Impact Assessment for Deer Management
This option supports the planning and implementation of Habitat Impact Assessments.
This deer management assessment can be used to:
- provide baseline information to inform management decisions
- check the effectiveness of management practices (when carried out every 3 to 5 years).
Visit Rural Payments’ Upland Habitat Impact Assessment for Deer Management page.
Deer Census – Helicopter Counts
Deer Census – Helicopter Counts supports the counting of wild deer numbers by helicopter and the recording of their locations. This assessment can be carried out every 3 to 5 years to check the effectiveness of management practices.
This must be combined with the Upland Habitat Impact Assessment for Deer Management.