Deer In and Around Towns FES Background Forest Enterprise Scotland - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Deer In and Around Towns

Scottish Lowlands Forest District -Deer Management

FES Background

• Forest Enterprise Scotland is an agency of Forestry

Commission Scotland charged with managing the National Forest Estate.

• 650,000ha

Very Rural to Urban. 2/3 woodland

• Multi- Functional – economic, environment, social
• 10 Forest Districts
• 1 of 3 DMOs covering FES.
• Deer Management but linked to Land management

Scottish Lowlands Forest District Map

Scottish Lowlands FD Background

• Number of people – over 3.6 million
• Local authorities – 22
• MSP Constituencies – 53
• National Forest Estate Woodland area ( approx 26000

hectares.

• Timber production >150,000m3 p/a
• Restocking area (approx 400 hectares p/a)
• SG – increase in tree planting to 15000 hectares pa.

Resources for SLFD Deer Management

• Annual Cull > 1500 deer per year.
• 1 x Wildlife Ranger Manager
• 2 x Wildlife Rangers
• 4 x Deer Culling Contractors
• 8 x Permissions equalling 29 Recreational deer

stalkers.

• Always under review and changes depending on

forest operations.

Urban Sites - Callender Wood

94 ha in size Average TI Count = 19 deer/100 ha Average annual cull = 12 deer/100ha

Link to YouTube video presentation

https://youtu.be/wWb-M4KVJxw

Urban Site - Cuningar Loop

Approx 30 ha in size Count using stealth cameras – 12 Cull in 3 months = 9 (30/100ha)

Urban Site – Green Oak Hill

Size = 43 ha

TI count = 27 ( 67 deer /100ha) Cull = 27. ( 67 deer /100 ha Still known present = 5 deer.

A few points on about moving forward

• Culling will continue on the NFE with the aim of lower

background deer populations .

• Where we can, we will work collaboratively with

neighbours and local land owners.

• Planting in the lowlands will continue to increase inline

with SG objectives and CSGN.

• Knowledge and methods for urban deer management

will continue to progress