Deer are one of Scotland’s most iconic animals, yet they keep getting cast as the villain. We sit down with a Scottish Game Fair panel featuring James Fenton alongside Megan Rowlands, Tom Turnbull, Scott Mackenzie, and Bill Cowie to ask a harder question: what is the real role of deer on the hill when you zoom out to ecology, rural livelihoods, and culture?
We dig into why “ideal” deer numbers don’t exist without clear land management objectives, and how deer influence upland grazing systems through nutrient cycling, plant diversity, food for scavengers, and even fire suppression by reducing fuel load. From open hill stalking and biodiversity plans to an island case study on Rona, the conversation stays practical about what deer do on the ground and what happens when policy and public perception ignore that complexity.
Then we tackle the hot issues head on: why deer are tied to land reform debates, how deer forest rates can disincentivize transparent culling, why venison is still treated like a niche product, and what it would take to normalize local, low food miles wild meat in schools and hospitals. We also look ahead to the rising challenge of sika deer, hybridization, and the need for better coordination between forestry design and deer management.
If you care about deer management in Scotland, rewilding, venison, or the future of the Highlands, hit play, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.
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