Deer Bill passes with wins and losses for shooting

Holyrood passes deer Bill forcing mandatory training

The Scottish Government has passed the Natural Environment Bill, forcing deer stalkers to undergo compulsory training despite shooting groups saying there’s no proof it’s needed.

Rural affairs minister Jim Fairlie MSP says he’ll consult the sector before training starts, but nobody knows when that’ll be, what it’ll cost, or whether experienced stalkers will be let off.

BASC Scotland director Peter Clark said: “The decision to impose mandatory training on deer managers and stalkers in Scotland is yet another example of where a policy decision has been taken in the absence of any evidence to support it.”

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NatureScot gains new powers

But it’s the new powers handed to NatureScot that have really sparked concerns. The agency can now intervene in deer management for ‘nature restoration’ purposes rather than just stopping damage – a major shift from current law that the Scottish Gamekeepers Association warned will inevitably result in court actions.

NatureScot must try voluntary deals with landowners first, but can impose legally-binding control orders if it believes deer are blocking habitat recovery. Landowners who refuse face fines up to £40,000 or three months in prison.

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Wins for the shooting and conservation sector

Still, the shooting sector did claw back important wins. The Bill’s wording was watered down so NatureScot “may” use its powers rather than “will”, removing a presumption that the state would automatically intervene.

A new venison plan will promote the meat and offer financial incentives for deer managers, whilst changes to grouse moor licensing should make applications more straightforward. Muirburn rules have been altered so land managers don’t have to try alternatives before burning heather – backed by York University research showing burning works better than anything else for stopping wildfires.

But the sector’s biggest win? Plans to restrict gamebird releases were dropped completely after sustained pressure. BASC’s Mr Clark said there had been “a real risk that valuable land management activity would be undermined by proposals driven by greenwashing rather than evidence”.

The Bill became law on 12 March 2026.