Hill-walkers across Scotland urged to plan trips to avoid disturbing red deer during stalking season
Land managers say deer are alert to human activity from a considerable distance, often long before a walker is aware of them and even well-intentioned hill-goers can disrupt a day's stalking without realising it.
Hill-walkers are being urged to plan trips to avoid disturbing red deer stalking as the culling season builds towards its busiest period.
Most red deer stag stalking takes place between July and mid-October, with increasing activity from August to mid-October. Red deer hind stalking takes place from October 21 February 15.
Land managers say deer are alert to human activity from a considerable distance, often long before a walker is aware of them, and even well-intentioned hill-goers can disrupt a day's stalking without realising it.
NatureScot is encouraging people to use the Heading for the Scottish Hills service to help plan their visits and avoid disturbing stalking.
The service, which is part of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code website, helps people find out where deer stalking is taking place before they head out.
Read more: Sparks fly as blacksmithing returns to Gretna Green for first time in more than 150 years
Alongside other resources, such as Walkhighlands and estate websites, the service advises where and when stalking happens on popular hills, provides contact details for land managers and includes routes that are “always okay”.
Hill-walkers are being asked to plan a route that avoids areas where stalking is taking place, stay flexible on the day and follow any reasonable requests from land managers. Fewer routes are affected by stalking on Saturdays and stalking does not usually take place on Sundays.
NatureScot say managing deer plays a critical role in Scotland's response to nature loss and climate change. Controlling the impact of deer – including overgrazing, browsing and trampling – supports the recovery of upland habitats, boosts biodiversity and helps restore carbon-absorbing vegetation and damaged peatland, they add.
The public body’s People and Places Officer, Ali Tait, said: “During the past year, over 4,600 people have visited the Heading for the Scottish Hills webpages – with most visits during the key busier period in the autumn.
“By using this service, people are planning hill routes that reduce the chance of disturbing stalking, in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. The service is still growing, and we would encourage landowners and land managers to sign up if they haven’t already.”
Catriona Davies, Mountaineering Scotland Access and Conservation Officer, said: “Autumn is a fantastic time to get out into the hills and, as responsible access users, we need to be aware it is also an important time of year for deer management.
“Heading for the Scottish Hills is a useful resource that helps us plan our routes to minimise the chance of disturbing deer stalking, while making the most of our beautiful mountain landscapes. “We encourage all hillwalkers, hill runners and climbers to check the Heading for the Scottish Hills website before they head out.”
Read more: Lumo passengers forced to wait an hour while train refuelled en route from Stirling to London
Tom Turnbull, Chairman of the Association of Deer Management Groups, said: “Deer managers are under increasing pressure to complete culls in line with the objectives of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026.
“The Heading for the Scottish Hills service provides a vital tool in enabling deer managers to deliver targets for climate and biodiversity. It is greatly appreciated when signage is followed and advice is taken by those taking access, thereby limiting disturbance at this important time of year.”
The Heading for the Scottish Hills service was first launched in 2015 and is available on the Outdoor Access Scotland website.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.