Scottish Wildlife Bill meets with all-round approval

Shooting groups have welcomed the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill Consultation Report published recently by the Scottish Government. Organisations supportive of the Bill include the Association of Deer Management Groups, BASC Scotland, the British Deer Society, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, the Scottish Countryside Alliance, the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, the Scottish Estates Business Group and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association.

The largest part of the Bill will update the 19960 Deer (Scotland) Act and the Consultation Report has confirmed that several controversial proposals will be dropped including compulsory training for deer managers, an end to close seasons for male deer and changes to the law on night shooting or driving deer.
Rights will be granted through a general licensing system, but with conditions attached including a presumption against shooting female deer in the period they might have dependent young.

The rest of this article appears in 2nd June issue of Shooting Times.

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