Deer Management Strategic Board minutes: December 2025

Attendees and apologies

Donald Henderson, Scottish Government (Chair)

Donald Fraser, NatureScot

Robbie Kernahan, NatureScot

Doug Knox, Forestry and Land Scotland

Samantha Malpass, Scottish Forestry

Colin McClean, Cairngorms National Park Authority 

Crispin Hill, NatureScot

Brodie Wilson, Scottish Government 

 

Apologies 

Simon Jones, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority 

Grant Moir, Cairngorms National Park Authority 

Items and actions

Legislative Update - Donald Henderson

The Natural Environment Bill is at Stage 2.  The proposed amendments were discussed in general terms, and it was noted that there was Ministerial interest in those around tenants’ / occupiers’ rights.  BW highlighted that SG will ask for NatureScot’s thinking on amendments of interest during the progress of the Bill.  Stage 3 of the Bill may begin as early as the end of January 2026.

 

Deer Cull Data Strategy - Donald Fraser

There is work ongoing to acquire the data needs required by the Scotland Biodiversity Strategy (especially wrt deer impacts) and to join this up with other related work such as NatureScot’s broader data strategy, with a focus on sharing data across agencies and using this in a joined-up way, new technologies to help gather essential data, and openness / transparency of deer-related work. 

The challenge is resourcing these strands of work, and work needs to be done to link into others’ data such as RPID and FLS.  RK suggested that a specific workstream is set up to ensure progress on this aspect of work and to help with joining-up. DF further mentioned that this workstream needs to ensure alignment with SBS objectives too.

AP – to set up a workstream on data

 

Sika Deer Management - Crispin Hill

The key points from a draft Sika policy which is in development was presented.  DH queried whether eradication of Sika was possible now or only containment.  He also identified the need to be seen to be doing more than culling ‘easier’ deer.  The difficulties of culling Sika over the short and long term are well-known and the question of resourcing additional sika culling was raised.

Previous policy success was mentioned wrt preventing spread east of the A9.  There was a debate over the necessity of a Sika-specific policy or whether the better approach was a more general deer management approach, which would also reduce excessive separate strategies.
DF identified there was a general groundswell of opinion across the sector re doing more on culling Sika, and there is a good opportunity to show good work here.

 

Deer Management Futures / Route Map - Donald Fraser

A paper on the provision of more money and other resources to increase the national culling and processing efforts was discussed.  DF stated that NScot have some money to help develop this if needed over the next year, which would help meet PfG commitments on this topic area.

CM said there are significant concerns about maintenance of jobs in the sector in the longer term once deer densities are reduced.  There was some thinking that there is a need to get to a low-density scenario before this becomes relevant. Although this was disagreed with by CM who felt this was a relevant issue now in order to keep the private sector engaged re jobs going forwards.  DH highlighted the SG financial situation, which meant it was difficult to find money to support longer term strategic work, and BW added that there was appetite from Ministers to find ways to support the venison sector – seen as part of the work on jobs and a Just Transition.

 

AoB

There was a desire expressed to look afresh at the Comms from the SDB with the wider sector; eNGOs, CGF, AMG etc.  It was agreed  that the comms around deer work is essential to its eventual success.

AP – Given communications is vital we should aim to show we recognise the concerns of others, and have a further conversation post-election regarding the long term future of deer management.

The next meeting had been planned for March 4th and to be held in the North Ross DMG area with a theme of ‘conflict and collaboration in a DMG’.  The date may need to be changed to a sightly later late, in part due to elections in May 2026. But the Board expressed general enthusiasm for the visit.

 

Agenda item now dealt with by correspondence – Update on the Deer Code – Crispin Hill

Steering Group

• C.12 members – Colin MacPhail (NScot Board member) chairing
• ‘Initial thoughts’ document circulated – feedback received
• ToR circulated and agreed
• Online platform (Teams) channel set up
• Mainly conducted by correspondence going forwards
• 2x Pre-meetings held – testing temperature and overarching thoughts
• First full meeting held December 3rd to agree structure.

 

Looking forwards

• 2-3 meetings total anticipated - saved for more difficult sections (Feb and March = likely timings)
• Planned finish is Spring (May) 2025
• Draft will go to wider consultation through DMRT
• Developing infographics to flesh out intervention scenarios
• Will need to maintain watching brief on development of the Natural Environment Bill

 

Topics flagged early on

• More robust tone.
• Sika need more focus.
• Be simple to access and understand for all.
• Meaning of ‘restoration’ and ‘enhancement’?
• Local Authority engagement.
• Changing deer behaviours.
• Sense-check the ‘musts’, ‘shoulds’ and ‘coulds’ (combine the ‘shoulds’ and ‘coulds’?)
• Emphasise collaboration.
• Should it reiterate legal requirements only?
• Restructure to ‘speak’ to different audiences.
• Timescale for completion is questioned.