Scottish ministers accused of 'out of the blue' move ditching rates relief for deer stalkers
Deer managers claim the decision was made without prior discussion or consultation with the sector
Small rural businesses involved in deer management have warned jobs could be at risk after Scottish ministers threatened to strip them of business rates relief.
The draft budget, presented to Holyrood last week, proposes removing eligibility for the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) from “shootings and deer forests” from April 2026.
Under the proposal, businesses where deer stalking is let as part of a wider commercial operation would no longer qualify for rates relief, except in limited circumstances. These include cases where shooting rights are exercised solely for deer management purposes — such as preventing damage to woodland or crops, environmental management or vermin control — as well as crofts and certain agricultural or environmental tenancies.
Deer managers say the wording could exclude many estates and small enterprises that rely on income from let stalking to offset the costs of deer control, which they say is often carried out at a loss.
The Association of Deer Management Groups (ADMG) a voluntary partnerships group of individuals, public bodies and organisations managing deer for conservation and economic purposes, said the move was made without discussion or consultation with the sector.
Tom Turnbull, chairman of ADGM, said: “This has come completely out of the blue and in our view could be a hammer blow to the collaborative deer management structure on which Scottish Government and its agencies rely to deliver their deer management targets if those small businesses who are letting stalking are to be penalised through removal of this relief.
“This is an extraordinary step at a time when we are in discussion with Government about how deer management should be incentivised as it is currently carried out at a net loss by many businesses with its cost partially offset by letting stalking.
“We are seeking urgent clarification from Government on what this means and the scale and scope of the impact of this proposal.
“We need to understand what is meant by ‘solely for the purposes of deer management’ and implications around, for example, the sale/supply of venison as well as let stalking.
“If this goes ahead we can only see that this will impact heavily on the sector, undermine trust and collaboration, threaten jobs, and ultimately serve no purpose other than act as a disincentive to supporting government in delivery of its climate change, environmental recovery and habitat restoration targets.”
Mr Turnbull is urging agriculture minister Jim Fairlie MSP and others in the Scottish Government to ensure an exemption should remain in place for rural businesses that are signed up to a Deer Management Plan and who are part of a Deer Management Group.
Scottish Conservative MSP Tim Eagle said the move is another example of the Scottish Government “unnecessarily interfering in the rural way of life” and will have a “deeply damaging” impact on many estates.
The politicians said the decision will have come as a “major shock” to many who will now be affected and urged ministers to properly engage with the sector.
“Removing this vital rates relief for shoots and deer forests will result in job losses in rural Scotland and SNP ministers need to think again,” Mr Eagle said.
“These shoots carry out hugely important conservation work, and the decision is another shortsighted attack on rural areas who are already facing huge challenges right now.
“This rates relief is a lifeline for many shoots and businesses and will have a deeply damaging impact on them.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The changes outlined in the budget are part of a wider package of changes to non-domestic rates. We will continue to consider how we best provide support to deer managers directly.
“The Scottish Government has provided funding via pilot projects over the last few years intended to trial methods of supporting deer management. Those have included funding for carrying out deer control and support for the venison sector.
“We are committed to working to ensure collaborative deer management continues.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.