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Publication - Advice and guidance

Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 - section 8 control scheme: Loch Choire Estate

Published
4 April 2025
From
Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Farming and rural
ISBN
9781836915089

Control scheme made by NatureScot under section 8 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 which has been confirmed by the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Annexes to Section 7 Control Agreement

Annex 1 (to Section 7 Control Agreement) - The Control Area

Loch Choire Estate – section7 Agreement Area. Map shows boundary lines for: 1. Section 7 Agreement Area (this includes areas of the following SSSIs) a. Mallart SSSI b. Truderscaig SSSI c. Skinsdale Peatlands SSSI d. Ben Klibreck SSSI 2. Loch Choire DMU UPID 501 3. Designated Special Areas of Conservation 4. Designated Special Protection Areas 5. Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Annex 2 (To Section 7 Control Agreement) – Culling Guidance

Data Set Stags Hinds Calves Density
2022 Winter Population 630 900 250 13.9
Actual 2022/23 Cull 5 167 46 -
2023 Mortality 25 36 30 -
2023 Spring Population 600 697 174 11.5
2023 Summer Population 687 784 259 13.5
Actual 2023/24 Cull 138 110 40 -
2024 Mortality 14 16 16 -
2024 Spring Population 535 658 203 10.9
2024 Summer Population 637 760 251 12.9
Proposed 2024/25 Cull 120 160 50 -
2025 Mortality 13 15 15 -
2025 Spring Population 504 585 186 10.0
2025 Summer Population 597 678 224 11.7
Proposed 2025/26 Cull 120 150 40 -
2026 Mortality 12 14 13 -
2026 Spring Population 465 514 170 9.0
2026 Summer Population 550 599 198 10.5
Proposed 2026/27 Cull 90 120 40 -
2027 Mortality 11 12 12 -
2027 Spring Population 449 467 146 8.3
2027 Summer Population 522 540 178 9.7
Proposed 2027/28 Cull 70 100 40 -
2028 Mortality 10 11 11 -
2028 Spring Population 441 429 128 7.8
Target (Spring Population 7.5 deer/km2) - - - 7.5

Assumptions:

Mortality: Stags = 2%, Hinds = 2%, Calves = 6%

Calving = 33%

Total Estate Area = 12,792 ha

Total Estate Area less deer fenced areas and lochs = 11,700 ha

Commencement Date between 1st July 2024

Notes - Guidance figures shown should be considered the minimum requirement to achieve the target population.

Annex 3 (To Section 7 Control Agreement) – 2023 SCM Sample Results

Assessed Attributes Points that failed to meet target
Vegetation composition - frequency of indicator species 6 (18%)
Vegetation composition - cover of indicator species 8 (24%)
Vegetation composition - cover of other species 3 (9%)
Vegetation structure - indicators of browsing 2 (6%)
Vegetation structure - disturbance by management 0 (0%)
Physical structure - peat erosion 0 (0%)
Physical structure - indicators of disturbance due to herbivore and human activity 8 (24%)
Survey points that failed to meet one or more targets in 2023 48%
Survey points that previously failed to meet one or more targets 17%

Based upon these sample results across three SSSIs on Loch Choire Estate, the blanket bog feature on all of them would be assessed to be in Unfavourable condition.[1] Taking into account this increase in the number of survey points that now are failing to meet one or more targets (previously 17%, now 48%), the condition of the Blanket Bog feature across these three SSSIs would be considered to be Declining.[1]

Annex 4 (To Section 7 Control Agreement) - Deer census

(i) Deer numbers from the helicopter census carried out in November 2022
Property Stags Hinds Calves Total
Loch Choire 630 783 250 1663
Dalnessie (part) 52 35 9 96
Ben Armine (part) 40 59 15 114
Borrobol (part) 1 3 0 4
FLS Dalchork (part) 1 4 3 8
Kilbreck (part) 38 289 109 436
Altnaharra (part) 2 12 5 19
Total 764 1185 391 2340
(ii) Deer numbers from full helicopter census of East Sutherland DMG Area March 2017
Property Planar Area (ha) Stags Hinds Calves Total Density (Deer/km2)
Altnaharra 1212 7 60 20 87 7
Badanloch (south) 5160 115 304 115 534 10
Balnacoil 7409 507 424 188 1119 15
Ben Armine 8462 442 300 124 866 10
Borrobol 8819 613 835 294 1742 20
Clebrig/Klibreck 4689 102 486 144 732 16
Crakaig 1514 78 172 51 301 20
Culgower and West Garty 1179 54 191 58 303 26
Dalnessie 5029 214 163 72 449 9
Dalreavoch 5835 343 144 63 550 9
Dunrobin (inc Uppat) 11751 492 539 172 1203 10
Dunrobin Castle Wood 91 3 0 0 3 3
Farlay 43 149 0 1 1 2 1
FCS Dalchork Farm(open hill) 1950 141 89 31 261 13
Gartymore 1411 16 39 17 72 5
Gordonbush 5404 228 339 150 717 13
Gordonbush (PART) 283 16 45 14 75 27
Kildonan 7833 609 802 290 1701 22
Kintradwell Lairg Estate 3200 312 241 95 648 20
3128 9 0 0 9 0
Loch Choire 12792 693 1020 368 2081 16
Morvich 1970 31 66 23 120 6
Sciberscross 972 0 4 3 7 1
Torrish South of Helmsdale 1163 143 235 68 446 38
Torrish Woods 480 2 0 0 2 0
Tressady 8745 180 522 225 927 11
Unknown (Dalharrold) 171 1 0 0 1 1
Total 110801 5351 7021 2586 14958 13

Annex 5 (To Section 7 Control Agreement) - East Sutherland DMG Area

East Sutherland DMG Area Map shows boundary lines for: 1. Loch Choire Estate 2. Deer Management Units/Properties 3. East Sutherland DMG DMUs/Properties 4. Deer Management Group Boundary

Contact

Email: deercontrolscheme@gov.scot

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