Deer population in doubt

You report (12 May) that red deer numbers are a serious threat to wildlife. But before any widespread cull is called for, it is vital we establish a true population figure. The figure of 400,000 is unreliable, and a new figure should be built "bottom up" from counts by stalkers on the ground, not from government data that is flawed and out of date.

The aim of deer population management should be to ensure healthy herds in balance with the environment and the needs of land users. The UK has 75 per cent of the world’s heather moorland, most of it in Scotland. Much of it already carries conservation designations, and a drastic cull would result in widespread conversion of heather moor to scrub and a breach of these very designations.

The income generated by stalking is vital in many remote areas and must not be jeopardised by the reduction of an iconic species to the status of vermin, as suggested by your report.

The Scottish Countryside Alliance believes deer management groups, with local agreement, should set an appropriate cull target, and it should be carried out in a humane manner.

Hill red deer and their habitat are essential to Scotland’s international brand image. If we allow mass culls based on flawed data, and allow scrub to replace heather moorland, we lose this image and a large part of our tourist income.

TONY ANDREWS

Chief executive, SCA

Ingliston

Midlothian