Cairngorm Speyside Deer Management Group

Cairngorms, Speyside Deer Management Group

Group Deer Management Plan

1 - Introduction

This Deer Management Group Plan provides the policy framework and strategic guidance, presents the issues affecting deer management and integrates tactics for co-coordinated management.

The managers of the estates that make up the membership of the Cairngorms, Speyside Deer Management Group (Appendix 1) have come together to make this plan for the purposes of:


1.	Enabling them to progress co-operation between members
2.	Identifying the main issues about Red Deer management and agreeing a broad strategy that will address them and will be implemented by members
3.	Communicating the strategy to the wider public as well as those who are new to the work of the group, such as new estate and agency staff.
4.	Providing an operational plan that will determine future working, and act as a framework for the agenda and minute for meetings.
5.	Providing a review process

They have adopted the aims of the Cairngorms National Park as their own aims in so far as they relate to deer management and these are:-

(a)	to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area.
(b)	to promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area.
(c)	to promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public, and
(d)	to promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities.

This Deer Management Plan (DMP) aims to include the principles of managing all species of deer. However, red deer populations range more widely than roe deer, utilizing properties under different ownerships and management regimes. This aspect creates particularly challenging issues and therefore red deer are the main focus of this current plan. As coordinated red deer management becomes more established, and this plan is reviewed, more consideration should be given to roe deer. Red deer are important to our natural and cultural heritage as well as providing a basis of land use, management, and employment in the glens. They are a great asset to the Cairngorms.

Historic and recent concerns about the impact of red deer have been related to over grazing and the prevention of woodland regeneration. Much progress has been made and continues to be made in addressing these concerns. From the 1960’s sheep reductions/removal took place and from the mid 1980’s several of the larger estates in forest areas began to reduce red deer populations. Locally, rabbit populations have also been controlled and generally grazing impacts are considerably less than in past decades.

2	Objectives of this Deer Management Plan

Part 1 - Policy and Broad Objectives
3	General Policy and Objectives
4	The Biological Landscape
5	Land Use Policies, Legal Framework and Strategic Directions
6	Statutory designations within the CSDMG area

Part 2 - The Issues
7	Summary of Issues

Part 3 - Developing a Strategy
8	Deer and Land Managemen t
9	A Strategy

Part 4 - Tactical and Operational Objectives, Cull Targets and Data Requirements
10	Tactical Objectives
11	Population Models and Cull Targets
12	Monitoring and data requirements
13	Review and modify
14	Communications
15	Training

	Appendices

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