The management of red deer on Scottish open hills: results of a survey conducted in 1995

This paper presents the results of a Scotland-wide survey on current practices of red deer management on the open hill. Many holdings collect detailed information about deer populations, but relatively few monitor the habitat. Old hinds were primarily targeted for culling on most holdings. This targeting policy for hinds makes it difficult to achieve effectively the stated goal-of a majority of holdings to control hind numbers. The results highlight the need to collect information on habitats as part of long-term sustainable management.