Tory MSP says ending closed deer seasons will allow for their "uncontrolled slaughter"

Scottish Government plans to end closed seasons for male deer will allow for the year-round "indiscriminate killing" and their "uncontrolled slaughter", a Conservative MSP has claimed.

Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain has now launched a petition against plans put forward by the SNP and Greens to remove the statutory closed seasons on male deer.

The move is to be considered by members of the Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs Committee after MSPs return to Holyrood following the end of the summer recess.

Mr Mountain insisted: "After 40 years of managing deer, I cannot support the Scottish Government's proposals to remove the closed seasons on all male deer.

"Creating a permanent open season on culling male deer will not lead to good management but indiscriminate killing and, I fear, uncontrolled slaughter.

"That's why I have lodged a motion to annul this proposal at the Scottish Parliament and have also launched a petition calling on the Scottish Government to drop this idea."

He claimed the current closed season, when culling is not generally permitted, is "serving Scotland well" and is "effective at protecting the welfare of the deer population".

Mr Mountain also said if there is a need to shoot deer during the closed season, the existing licensing scheme could allow for this where "culling is justified".

He said: "Frankly, replacing the current measures with an open season is just excessive.

"Managing and culling the deer population takes more than just shooting every male deer in sight. The Scottish Government needs to go back to the drawing board and be far more thoughtful in its approach in its aim to reduce the size of the national deer herd.

"I would prefer to see them put more boots on the ground and collaborate more with land managers, focusing their efforts on protecting the fit and healthy male deer.

"Reducing the national deer herd is about good management, not massacres."

But Mike Daniels, head of policy at the John Muir Trust conservation charity, and deputy convener of the Link Deer Group, welcomed the Government proposals.

He said: "We commend the Scottish Government for facing up to the fact that sustainable deer management is fundamental to Scotland's efforts to deal with the twin crises of biodiversity and climate change facing the country. Changing the stag season is fundamental to achieving this.

"This is not just a marginal problem. Deer damage is extensive across the 26,000 square kilometres of Scotland's land which is devoted primarily to private deer stalking.

"The biggest barrier to environmental, economic and social progress across this vast area is the unsustainable density of our red deer population."

Biodiversity minister Lorna Slater said while deer are "an important part of the ecosystem in Scotland", numbers have doubled in the last three decades.

As a result, she added: "We need to take urgent action to reduce numbers to prevent damage to young trees, to peatland and sensitive habitats.

"This action is vital to secure our climate and nature objectives and we have consulted widely on our proposals with a range of organisations involved in deer management.

"Removing the male deer close season is a sensible step towards sustainable management and these claims are simply inaccurate. The measure was proposed by the independent Deer Working Group and the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has confirmed there are no adverse welfare impacts."