Managing deer for climate and nature: consultation analysis

Annex 1: Consultation questions

Part 1: Enhancing the natural environment (Q1–Q8)

Question 1: Do you agree that NatureScot should be able to intervene, through DMNROs, to ensure that action is taken to manage deer, where deer management has been identified as a key part of nature restoration? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 2: Do you agree with our proposed criteria for a DMNRO? [Yes | No | Don’t know | I don't agree with DMNROs]

Question 3: If you answered no to the previous question, what criteria, if any, would you recommend? [There should be no criteria/restrictions | There should be more criteria/restrictions | I don't agree with DMNROs | Don’t know]

Question 3a: Please provide reasons for your answer here.

Question 4: Do you agree that NatureScot should be able to require a person who is subject of a DMNRO to undertake a range of actions to achieve deer management objectives in these circumstances? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 5: Do you agree that if financial incentives for deer management are created, individuals subject to DMNROs should be automatically eligible for such support? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 6: Do you agree that non-compliance with DMNROs should be treated in the same way as non-compliance with existing control schemes? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 7: Do you agree that NatureScot should be able to recover costs from the landowner where they are required to intervene as a result of non-compliance with DMNROs? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 7a: If you do not support cost recovery, what alternative non-compliance measures, if any, would you recommend?

Question 8: Please provide any further comments on the questions in this section here.

Part 2: Compulsory powers and compliance (Q9–Q13).

Question 9: Do you agree with our proposals that would allow changes to the types of information which can be requested by NatureScot (under Section 40 of the 1996 Act), to be made via secondary legislation? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 10: Do you agree with our proposals that the period of time over which NatureScot can ask for information on planned future culls should be increased from 12 months up to a period of 5 years? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 11: Do you agree with our proposals that NatureScot should be able to use emergency powers under Section 10 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, which include the ability to enter land to undertake short term deer management actions for a period of up to 28 days, to tackle damage to the natural heritage? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 12: Do you agree with our proposals that where NatureScot have intervened and carried out deer management actions as a result of these emergency powers, they should be able to recover reasonable costs? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 13: Please provide any further comments on the proposals set out in this section here.

Part 3: Deer welfare (Q14–Q20)

Question 14: Do you agree with our proposals that everyone shooting deer in Scotland should meet fit and competent standards as evidenced by having achieved at least Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 15: Do you agree with our proposals to establish specified competence levels for those deer management activities which currently are only permissible under authorisation by NatureScot, such as night shooting, driving deer and out of season shooting? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 16: Do you agree with our proposals that the requirement for an individual authorisation from NatureScot to carry out activities such as night shooting, driving deer and out of season shooting could be replaced by registration on the Fit & Competent Register where deer managers must have evidenced their competency to undertake specified activities? [The Fit & Competent Register should replace individual authorisations for these activities | There should be a Fit & Competent Register as well as individual authorisations for these activities | There should only be individual authorisations for these activities | Don’t know]

Question 17: Do you agree with our proposals that use of a shotgun to kill deer should be subject to stricter regulation? [Use of a shotgun to shoot deer should require registration on the Fit & Competent Register | Use of a shotgun to shoot deer should require registration on the Fit & Competent Register and an individual authorisation from NatureScot | Use of a shotgun to shoot deer should require an individual authorisation from NatureScot | Use of a shotgun to shoot deer should not be restricted at all | Don’t know]

Question 18: Do you agree with our proposals that any capture of live deer should be individually authorised by NatureScot? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 19: Do you agree that NatureScot should develop a statutory Code of Practice, which could provide guidance and minimum standards on topics such as animal welfare and disease prevention, on the live capture of deer in Scotland in collaboration with stakeholders for use in future? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 20: Please provide any further comments on the proposals set out in this section here.

Part 4: Changes to close seasons (Q21–Q23)

Question 21: Do you agree that the close season for female deer of all species should be the same? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 22: Do you agree that the close season for female deer of all species should be changed to cover the period of highest welfare risk, from 31 March to 30 September? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 22a: If you do not agree with our proposals to change the season for female deer, what, if any, further actions would you recommend to support increased management of female deer?

Question 23: Please provide any further comments on the questions in this section here.

Part 5: Venison (Q24–Q26)

Question 24: Do you agree that venison specific regulations should be repealed and venison should simply follow the same regulatory procedure as other wild meat and game products without the additional requirement of a Venison Dealers Licence? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 25: If no, do you agree that NatureScot should be able to gather more information from venison dealers on deer carcases and their use? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 26: Please provide any further comments on the questions in this section here.

Part 6: Kept and farmed deer (Q27–Q30)

Question 27: Do you agree with our proposals that the owner or occupier of land should be allowed to shoot stray farmed deer on that land in order to prevent damage by the deer, providing there is, by their assessment, no other reasonable or practical way to contain the deer? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 28: Do you agree with our proposals that anyone wishing to keep deer as private property (i.e. not for the purpose of farming or as an exhibit in a zoo) should require a licence to protect the welfare of those deer? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 28a: If you do not support the introduction of licensing for kept deer, what further action, if any, would you recommend to protect their welfare?

Question 29: Do you agree with our proposals that anyone seeking to release captive red or roe deer into the wild in Scotland should require authorisation from NatureScot, for example, deer which may have been caught and monitored for research purposes? [Yes | No | Don’t know]

Question 29a: If you do not agree with our proposals that anyone releasing red or roe deer should require authorisation, what, if any, further actions would you recommend to ensure they do not cause damage to habitats, or pose a risk to wild deer populations?

Question 30: Please provide any further comments on the proposals set out in this section here.