Best Practice demonstration events

Farmers, crofters, stalkers, gamekeepers and other land managers descended on Drummuir Estate near Keith in March for a two-day event designed to increase understanding and share experiences about deer management. A series of workshops were held in marquees and in the open air on the estate during the two days on subjects ranging from techniques used to assess deer damage on different habitat types to the use of firearms, butchery techniques and different ways of preparing and cooking venison.

The event was organised by the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) in partnership with a range of other organisations including the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, the British Deer Society, the Association of Deer Management Groups, the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, Forestry Commission Scotland and LANTRA. The workshops were focused around Best Practice Guides – a series of publications funded by DCS and developed in conjunction with organisations from across the deer sector. By taking part in the workshops participants could learn about the information already in the guides and how it worked in a practical setting. Participants were also encouraged to discuss and share their own experiences as a way of feeding information into guides currently being developed.

Around 160 people attended the workshops, and an evening seminar held in the Uigie House Hotel last Thursday evening (15th March) brought people together to listen to a series of presentations on the theme ‘Utilising Deer as a Resource’.

DCS Best Practice Project Officer, Linzi Seivwright, said: “The Best Practice Demonstration Events are a great way to bring a broad range of practitioners together – both those who work with deer on a regular basis and those who deal with deer very occasionally. The event on Drummuir Estate was the first held in the north-east of Scotland and builds on the success of previous events held in other parts of Scotland. The feedback we have had so far has been very positive – it shows that the events are a valuable and worthwhile forum to learn about deer management and to share experiences. “We hope the same success will be achieved at future events in the Western Isles and near Loch Lomond later this year.”

FURTHER INFORMATION

The Best Practice Guidance was launched by the Deer Commission for Scotland in 2003 and provides information on a range of deer and land management issues through a suite of around 80 paper and electronic guides. The development of the guides themselves is overseen by a steering group comprising the Association of Deer Management Groups, British Deer Society, Scottish Gamekeepers Association, Forestry Commission Scotland, British Association for Shooting and Conservation, the Deer Initiative and LANTRA, to ensure the guides meet the needs of the deer sector.

The event on Drummuir Estate is the fourth Best Practice Demonstration Event held since July 2005. Other events have been held on Corrour Estate near Fort William, at Bowhill in the Scottish Borders and at Glencassley in Sutherland.

Workshops were held on the following:

1. Shooting and Firearm Shot Placement / Ballistics
2. Shooting and Firearms – Know Your Weapon
3. Producing Quality Venison – Lardering
4. Producing Quality Venison – Butchering and Cooking
5. Assessing Habitats
6. Deer Welfare and the use of Dogs

For further details or subscription enquiries for Best Practice Guidance please contact Laura Fenton, 01786 446282