Stag requirements based on data provided by estates (Appendix 8) are presented below. For those estates not specifying a requirement for mature stags approximately one third of the total stag requirement has been assumed to allow calculation of the minimum population size;

170 x 7.6 = 1292 stags
1292 x 1.3 = 1680 hinds
1680 x 0.37 = 622 calves
Total population required = 3594

Eastern sub-area

33 x 7.6 = 251 stags
326 x 1.3 = 424 hinds
424 x 0.37 = 157 calves
Total population required = 832

NB Blank stalking days will be recorded by stalkers to monitor the actual availability of stags

Hinds are based on an assumed adult sex ration of 1.3 hinds: 1 stag, given the degree of under-culling and the higher survival rates of hinds.

Recruitment of calves of 0.37 is based on previous values for high performance red deer populations.

Unclassified deer are divided on the basis that x 0.05 are juvenile stags (these are added to the counted stags) and the remainder are hinds and calves. Calves are assumed to be x 0.35 hinds. This follows DCS protocol for allocating unclassified deer from count data (I Hope, pers. comm.).

Thus the starting figures for the western sub-area (Table 5A) are 1487 stags and 2759 hinds and the totals including neighbouring estates (Table 5B) are 3318 stags and 7167 hinds.

Unclassified deer are divided on the basis that x 0.05 are juvenile stags (these are added to the counted stags) and the remainder are hinds and calves. Calves are assumed to be x 0.35 hinds. This follows DCS protocol for allocating unclassified deer from count data (I Hope, pers. comm.).

Thus the starting figures for the eastern sub-area (Table 7A) are 422 stags and 506 hinds. With the addition of the Invercauld home beat (Table 7B), the starting figures are 772 stags and 1331 hinds.

However, it seems clear that deer move in and out of the area in the south and south-east and that an influx of stags, particularly to the Gaick and Glenfeshie hind populations, is helping to sustain stag requirements in the sub-area. In order to meet the CSDMG objectives (Section 10), it is proposed that the spring population should be around 9 deer km-2. This will allow all objectives to be met.

Three models are provided. Table 5A includes only those estates that are part of the CSDMG area and indicates a reduction in the spring density from 11.8 deer km-2 to 9.2 deer km-2. The starting population values in Tables 5 A-C, are the values of stags and hinds from Table 3 and a revised value for calves based on a recruitment rate of hinds of x 0.37 (this is the reason for the small discrepancy between the total population value in Figures 5 A-C and 7 A-B).

The concentrations occurring in the lower glens in periods of adverse weather may continue to cause unacceptable impacts on woodland regeneration and other vulnerable habitats and culling should aim to achieve localised differences in density relevant to local objectives. An important consideration is the increase in population size due to incursions from estates outside the CSDMG, notably from parts of Athol, Dalnacardoch and Mar Lodge estates. Because of the current imbalance in favour of hinds and in order to maintain stag numbers, stag culls are equivalent to recruitment, while hinds are culled more heavily. This results in an increase in the ratio of stags:hinds from 0.54 to 0.78. However, with the influx of stags from the south, summer sex ratios will be closer to parity.

* The starting population values in Tables 5 A-C, are the values of stags and hinds from Table 3 and a revised value for calves based on a recruitment rate of hinds of x 0.37 (this is the reason for the small discrepancy between the total population value in Figures 5 and 7 A-C.

Table 5C presents a model for the wider area (as in Table 5B) but reduces the density to a similar level as presented for the CSDMG area alone (Table 5A). Again, culls on estates within the CSDMG should approximately follow those proposed in Table 5A. This model (Table 5C) will almost certainly fulfil CSDMG objectives but may not be acceptable to the neighbouring estates

Assumes 0.4 of hinds in summer calving; 0.37 of calves recruited into adult population in spring.
Figures for the numbers of calves in the cull and in summer are crude estimates (hinds x 0.4) based on numbers of hinds. Calves should be culled in relation to milk hinds in the cull.

* The starting population values in Tables 5 A-C, are the values of stags and hinds from Table 3 and a revised value for calves based on a recruitment rate of hinds of x 0.37 (this is the reason for the small discrepancy between the total population value in Figures 5 and 7 A-C.

The model that includes the estates to the south of the western sub-group area but achieves an overall density of 13.7 deer km-2 (Model 5B) is considered to provide a more realistic vision of the red deer population. However, within the CSDMG area the culls proposed in Table 5A need to be achieved. It will be easier (but not impossible) to achieve the overall densities with agreement and co-operation from neighbouring estates and the CSDMG area will continue to import stags from the south and west. The estates in the south and west of the CSDMG area (notably, South Drumochter, Gaick and Glenfeshie) are dependent upon stags moving in from the south during the summer and reductions in deer numbers in Atholl, Dalnacardoch and Mar Lodge will reduce stag availability in the CSDMG area.

Tables 5A, 5B and 5C indicate a reduction in the total density in the western sub area aimed at maintaining stag numbers and reducing current impacts. Deer control should be concentrated on the sensitive areas (See 10 above) aimed at achieving local differences in density to deliver habitat-based targets in woodland regeneration areas and higher densities in largely sporting areas, whilst still permitting the recovery of important extensive habitats such as montane heath and tree-line scrub.

Local (estate-based) culls aimed at achieving the CSDMG western sub-area density of 9.2 deer km-2 and based on the initial years (2005-06) cull recommendation (line 8, Table 5A) are proposed in Table 6A. The division of the total cull requirement between estates has been based on the proportion of low ground (Table 3) as representing the approximate carrying capacity of the habitat. These proposed culls are indicative only and estates should share information on culling progress during culling seasons aimed at achieving the sub-area total.

** Total cull figures are taken from line 8 of Table 5A (2006 culls)

Table 6B provides estimates of proposed sustainable culls following the reductions achieved (Table 6A) based on the earlier model (Table 5A).

The stag requirements of estates in the eastern sub-area of 33 mature stags require a spring population of 832 red deer (equivalent spring density of 2.5 deer km-2). Starting values in Table 7A and 7B are derived from 2005 spring counts and recent reductions in Glenavaon. It appears that immigration from Invercauld is increasing stag availability during the stalking season. Given the low density in this area, the following models (Tables 7A and 7B) aim to maintain the total density in the eastern sub area as a means of maintaining sporting requirements. Deer control should be concentrated on the sensitive areas (See 10 above).

Assumes 0.4 of hinds in summer calving; 0.37 of calves recruited into adult population in spring..
Figures for the numbers of calves in the cull and in summer are crude estimates based on numbers of hinds. Calves should be culled in relation to milk hinds in the cull.

* Summer densities based on the entire available range of 62,328 ha.
** Spring densities are computed based on a winter range of 47,814 ha.

Assumes 0.4 of hinds in summer calving; 0.37 of calves recruited into adult population in spring..
Figures for the numbers of calves in the cull and in summer are crude estimates based on numbers of hinds. Calves should be culled in relation to milk hinds in the cull.

Notes for the application of these models:

Although this model can be modified annually following future spring counts, a strong commitment should be given to achieving the proposed reduction.

Consideration might be given to further modifying the stag to hind ratio in favour of stags, so as to provide more mature stags while maintaining a low total population size. A bias in favour of stags will assist the achievement of sporting targets while maintaining a population density consistent with other estate objectives.

It is extremely unlikely that red deer numbers will be reduced to levels below which they can make a speedy recovery, with a reduction in culling effort, should this be considered necessary at any stage.

Local (estate-based) culls aimed at maintaining the CSDMG eastern sub-area density of 3.4 deer km-2 (Table 7A), are proposed in Table 8. The division of the total cull requirement between estates has been based on the proportion of low ground as representing the approximate carrying capacity of the habitat. These proposed culls are indicative only and estates should share information on culling progress during culling seasons aimed at achieving the sub-area total.