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The Scottish Government will continue to pursue effective deer management that will help secure our climate and nature objectives, on land owned by the Scottish Government and other land. This includes changes that are being made to deer legislation through the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, implementing recommendations of the Deer Working Group, and progressing deer management priorities set by the Strategic Deer Board.

Deer numbers in forested or woodland environments are very difficult to estimate due to dense cover and the mobile nature of deer.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is the executive agency which manages Scotland’s national forests and land. The majority of deer management on land owned by the Scottish Government is undertaken by FLS. Alongside land owned by the Scottish Government, public bodies also manage deer on public land they are responsible for. This includes NatureScot and Scottish Water. Further detail on the deer management activities of these organisations is as follows.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS)

FLS estimate Scotland’s National Forests and Land’s (SNFL), deer population to be around 130,000 deer. This estimate is based on culling data. The break-down by species is as follows:

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), is the executive agency which manages Scotland’s national forests and land. The majority of deer management on land owned by the Scottish Government on behalf of the nation is undertaken by FLS. Alongside land owned by the Scottish Government, public bodies also manage deer on public land they are responsible for. This includes NatureScot and Scottish Water. Further detail on the deer management activities of these organisations is as follows.

Forestry and Land Scotland

FLS collects data, on a daily basis, for each deer culled on SNFL by its Wildlife Rangers and contractors, and on a monthly basis for recreational stalkers.

The data collected includes; species, sex, whether adult, yearling or juvenile, lactating females or whether a foetus is present, the presence of disease, the date, time, location (6-figure grid reference) and forest structure in which the deer was shot, whether it was shot by an FLS ranger, contractor or recreational stalker, shot placement, the larder in which the carcass was processed/chilled and length of time in the larder, carcass weight, whether shot under out of season or night shooting authorisation, and the end-use of the carcass (ie private sale, sold to venison dealer or is for domestic use by recreational stalker).

NatureScot

In addition to the annual cull data that NatureScot collects they also make regular and frequent assessments of deer populations on the NNRs it manages. This is done on a priority basis with the larger NNRs where deer management is a priority They use a range of techniques including; helicopter, drone and foot counts as well as dung counting. They also undertake Herbivore Impact Assessments to better understanding the impacts of the deer on the vegetation and habitats.

Scottish Water

Scottish Water does not monitor or keep records of deer numbers on their operational property, the data they do collect relates only to their rural catchment estate in East Grampian and is provided in the answers to S6W-34627 and
S6W-34630 on 26 February 2025.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The only other equipment that has been purchased in the last five years for use in net zero messaging has been a refurbished iPad, which was purchased in financial year 2023-24 at a cost of £500.

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is the executive agency which manages Scotland’s national forests and land. The majority of deer management on land owned by the Scottish Government is undertaken by FLS. Alongside land owned by the Scottish Government, public bodies also manage deer on public land they are responsible for. This includes NatureScot and Scottish Water. Further detail on the deer management activities of these organisations is set as follows.

Forestry and Land Scotland

The number of deer culled on Scotland’s National Forests and Land (SNFL) 640,000 hectares in each of the last five complete culling seasons is as follows:-

The bicycles were not purchased by the Scottish Government, but by the Energy Saving Trust. Details of the two bicycles are:

Bicycle 1: a) Make: Urban Arrow b) Model: Flatbed XL Cargo Line 500Wh with Flight Case c) Cost: No cost to Scottish Government, as it was gifted. d) Country of origin: the Netherlands.

Bicycle 2: a) Make: Butcher and Bicycles b) Model: Mk1 Vario c) Cost: No cost to Scottish Government, as it was gifted d) Country of origin: Denmark.

There are two wind turbines located on land owned by Scottish Government. Both are located on the Isle of Barra. The total capacity is 930KW.

Wind turbine developments on Scottish Government owned land follow the standard processes detailed in Scotland’s planning regulations.

Food Standards Scotland has undertaken two major public health campaigns on reducing foodborne illness in Scotland. Evaluations that were commissioned to assess the impact of these campaigns were positive in terms of visibility, reach and impacts on reported behaviours.

• The Pink Chicken campaign ran during the Summer of 2016 and aimed to increase awareness of, and reduce complacency about, the risks of food poisoning when cooking chicken outdoors over the summer season, particularly when barbecuing with family and friends. The key results and evaluation of this campaign can be read here Case_study-_Summer_Food_Safety_campaign.pdf.
• The Kitchen Crimes campaign in 2018 focussed on food safety behaviours and how consumers can make small changes in the kitchen to keep them and their family safe from the food they prepare and eat. The key results and evaluation of this campaign can be read here FSS 'Kitchen crimes' Food Safety Campaign 2018 - Evaluation | Food Standards Scotland.

In addition we have run smaller, more targeted campaigns to promote awareness of the risks of foodborne illness to the over 65 age group and good food safety practices when preparing and serving food over the Christmas period.

• In 2023, we ran a targeted campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with Campylobacter infection for those aged 65+. This campaign encouraged consumers who may be particularly vulnerable to campylobacter infection (the most commonly occurring cause of foodborne illness) to adopt safer food safety practices, particularly when it comes to the handling and cooking of chicken. This campaign tested the dissemination of information on Campylobacter on posters displayed in supermarket settings, and leaflets which provided food safety messaging alongside chicken recipes. We also engaged with people in this age group in assisted living premises, and ran focus groups to assess levels of understanding and get a better understanding of the format and channels of advice and information that is preferred by this age group and likely to have the most positive impact on food hygiene behaviours in the home. The evaluation of this campaign was not published but the findings are being used alongside outputs from our social research programme which will support the development of our future campaigns to communicate food safety messaging to segments of the population in Scotland which may be more vulnerable to foodborne illness.
• For Christmas 2021 we ran a food safety campaign reminding people about the risks of food poisoning over the festive period – focussing on the different food behaviours that people tend to adopt during the holiday e.g. over-stocking their fridges, catering for larger groups than usual, eating leftovers, and serving buffet style meals (with food left at room temperature for prolonged periods) . The campaign evaluation found that the it was well received, with good brand cut through and 82% of consumers questioned about the impact of our adverts saying that they took action to change their behaviour after seeing them-particularly around ensuring their turkey was cooked thoroughly and using leftovers safely.