Strategic Deer Board minutes: September 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Robyn Chapman, Scottish Government (Secretariat)
• Donald Fraser, NatureScot
• Donald Henderson, Scottish Government (Chair)
• Crispin Hill, NatureScot
• Doug Knox, Forestry and Land Scotland 
• Grant Moir, Cairngorms National Park Authority 
• Andy Hunt, Forestry and Land Scotland
• Samuel Turner, Scottish Government 
• Christine Boyle, Argyll and Bute Council
• Ben Harrower, BH Wildlife Consultancy

Apologies 

• Simon Jones, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority 
• Robbie Kernahan, NatureScot 
• John Kerr, Scottish Government 
• Cameron Maxwell, Scottish Forestry 
• Brodie Wilson, Scottish Government 

Items and actions

Welcome and Review 

Donald Henderson welcomed everyone to the meeting. The group agreed the minutes from the meeting of 30 June 2025 and acknowledge the completed and outstanding action points from previous meetings.

AP 5 – The Board wished to add to the action point concerning sporting rates to pull together a paper outlining the Board’s position on the matter.

AP (SG) – Robyn Chapman to publish the minutes of meeting of 30 June 2025 on the Scottish Government website now that they are agreed.

The group reflected on their morning site visit around Glasdrum NNR. The Board appreciated visiting the reserve and hearing from representatives of the local area in Appin and hearing the challenges of managing deer in areas of Atlantic rainforest. Present at the visit were:

Stephen Tong (Cowal DMG chair)

David Stewart (Appin Deer Forum chair)

Penny Cousins (Appin Community Development Trust)

Charles Stuart Fothringham (local landowner)

Innis Findlay (Local deer consultant who is currently writing a deer plan for the area)

The Board also had a demonstration from Ben Harrower on the use of thermal drone technology to locate and assess deer populations.

 

 

Agenda Item 3 – Wild Jura Venison Project  

Christine Boyle from Argyll and Bute Council gave a presentation on the Wild Jura Venison project which saw venison being served in primary schools throughout Islay and Jura.

Christine outlined the barriers, benefits and outcomes of the pilot. The local authority will continue to monitor response and uptake, and may expand across other areas of Argyll and Bute.

 

Agenda Item 4 – Immigration Study  

Following his earlier thermal drone demonstration Ben Harrower provided a presentation outlining the work his orgnisation has undertaken to successfully collect deer population data to inform strategic deer management plans.

Ben and his team surveyed Glen Creran as part of the FLS immigration study, they also survey Glasdrum annually. The remarkable earlier demonstration has outlined the capability of the drones to identify species, sex and age of the populations of deer present in the local area.

The Board appreciated the presentation and the new technology which helps to move estimations of deer populations and movements to accurate data.

 

Agenda Item 5 - Expanded Incentives Proposal

Following on from previous Board discussions about the PfG Commitment:

‘Considering with stakeholders the development of local pilot projects on deer management programmes, including an implementation plan and funding models.’

Donald Henderson outlined the recent proposal from the John Muir Trust and highlighted that whilst there is Ministerial attention on this ask the Scottish Government would like support from the Board to progress with a variation of their proposal.

Members of the Board expressed concerns around the payments per carcass being significantly higher than the agreed payment structure set out in the existing deer management incentives pilot schemes.

Donald accepted the Board’s concerns and agreed to give further consideration to the proposals, perhaps to build on to the existing pilots rather than develop proposals separate to them.  

 

Agenda Item 6 – Legislative Update

Sam Turner provided an update on the progress of the Deer Management Provisions within the Natural Environment Bill, outlining that officials and the Minister are meeting with stakeholders to understand their respective positions on the provisions at this stage.

A paper was circulated outlining potential amendments expected at stage 2 of the Bill process. The paper also included amendments suggested by stakeholders to date.

 

Agenda Item 7 – Deer Cull Return Data

Standing item: NatureScot provided the Board with the latest cull return data.

The Board asked for further information on the unrecorded cull and if it was possible to have a 20 year bar graph for the next Board meeting.

NatureScot advised they are working on a data strategy with colleagues in SG ARE which will be discussed at the December meeting.

 

Agenda Item 8 – Common Ground Forum/SDB Communication

NatureScot provided a verbal proposal to determine a way for the Board to increase communication with the Common Ground Forum. They also discussed potential ways to increase awareness and presence of the Board at future CGF events.

 

AOB

The next meeting is due to be held on 1 December 2025. This will be held online.