Highland lairds warned official hired guns will cull deer herds if they refuse

Two Highland estate owners face the threat of government-backed hired guns being sent in to cull their deer herds as a simmering row over environmental protection begins to boil over.

The threat is looming after efforts to get the owners to sign up to a plan to cut deer numbers by more than a third across a vast swathe of the southern Cairngorms has halted.

One of the estates accused government agency NatureScot of bullying, and said deer were already so scarce its stalking business was struggling. NatureScot says the cut is needed to protect the Caenlochan Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a tract of mountains and moor running from the A93 Glenshee road to the head of Glen Clova in Angus. It includes species-rich grasslands, blanket bog, and other important habitats.

There are 10 estates where NatureScot wants deer numbers to be cut. Eight have signed up to a deal under of Section 7 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, a voluntary agreement to cut deer numbers.

They include Bachnagairn, which is part of King Charles’ Balmoral holding, and the 84,000-acre Invercauld estate.

But two small estates – Glenisla House Estate, and the neighbouring Auchavan and Glencally holding – have so far refused to sign. The Deer Act states that where agreements cannot be reached, a Section 8 scheme can be imposed, which must be approved by government ministers. That would mean estates are legally obliged to cut deer numbers as directed – and if they don’t, hired marksmen can be sent in to do the job, with a bill for the work to follow.

If a Section 8 scheme is set up it will be the first since the act came into force, although it is understood the estates still have the chance to get into line before that happens.

In a statement, NatureScot says its aim is to reduce the local red deer population from around 16 deer per square kilometre to fewer than 10 by March 2026, in a 335 sq km range around the 52 sq km Caenlochan SAC.

Progress has been made but the agency says: “Red deer are still having a significant impact on protected areas and habitats in Caenlochan, and further action is needed.”

It adds: “NatureScot always favours a voluntary and collaborative approach to deer management; however we will not hesitate to make use of the full range of powers available to us if necessary, to secure vital benefits for nature and climate.

“We will therefore be making recommendations to the Scottish Government on potential regulatory action for the two land holdings that have not signed the agreement, to ensure that red deer are prevented from causing damage to the Caenlochan SAC.”

NatureScot has received widespread backing for its move against the hold-out estates. Mike Daniels, director of policy at the wild land charity the John Muir Trust, supports a big reduction in deer numbers to protect the environment. He said: “We welcome this decisive action by NatureScot.

“However, we feel the process has dragged on for far too long. We urgently need reform of deer legislation, to enable authorities to take rapid action on those unwilling or unable to manage deer sustainably.”

Tim Baynes, senior policy adviser to landowners’ organisation Scottish Land and Estates, said: “We hope that the remaining two land holdings will also sign up without the need for further regulatory action, but we support that where it is necessary.”

Nicholas Gibb is head stalker and the son of the owner, Major John Gibb, at Glenisla House.

He claimed NatureScot was “renowned” for “bully tactics”, and that there were already too few deer for their commercial stalking business – where they charge visitors £650 to shoot a stag. He said: “If we cull deer too much then there’ll be nothing left in any shape or form.

“We need to maintain a balanced cull, but if we go too far we’ll wipe out our industry.”