After the buyout, the bloodbath... as isle plans huge deer cull
Experts criticise ‘a hell of a slaughter’ on Ulva
THE new community owners of a Hebridean island have announced plans to slaughter hundreds of deer on the isle.
Despite having only a handful of residents, the isle of Ulva – which passed from private to public ownership last month after a buyout backed by more than £4.415 million of taxpayers’ cash – has a deer population of around 400.
Now the group behind the buyout has published its proposals for promoting the island’s economy and its future – including a plan to cull most of the red deer living on the hills.
As well as offering shooting trips – which they hope will generate ‘a modest annual income from sporting clients’ – the North West Mull Community Woodland Company is
‘Ultimately we want a healthy herd’
inviting professional stalkers to lodge expressions of interest to cut deer numbers from an estimated 400 to a maximum of 70-80.
But the islanders’ plans for such a massive cull have horrified deer experts. With the deadline now only two days away, doubts have been cast over the wisdom of the proposed deer cull numbers.
Iain Thornber of the Morvern Deer Management Group, of which the community woodland company is a member, said: ‘This would be a hell of a slaughter, it’s too high. To reduce deer numbers from 400 to 70 or 80 is ridiculous.’
Mr Thornber, a deer stalker for 40 years, added: ‘They are putting the cart before the horse. They are saying the deer population is very high, but how do they know? They need to get a proper deer count done, an aerial count, by professional people.
‘Ulva is capable of holding a large number of deer. They are wanting to do the thing as quickly as practicable and that will put a lot of stress on the animals – they shouldn’t be treated like vermin.’
Jim Corbett, vice-chairman of the Mull Deer Management Group, said: ‘It seems like a severe reduction. Seventy is quite a small number to produce a sustainable venison contribution and a sustainable sporting cull.’
The move is part of the woodland company’s vision to repopulate the island, which has only five residents after the departure of former owner Jamie Howard, and bring in farming families. Rich farming fields in the east of the island would be kept deer-free, while producing venison and cashing in on sporting clients’ income from a much reduced herd.
Publishing details of the plan on social media, a community company spokesman said: ‘Ultimately we want to achieve a healthy herd which can sustainably provide a regular flow of high-quality venison to the market, as well as providing a modest annual income from sporting clients.’
Calling for stalkers to express their interest by the deadline of Tuesday, the spokesman added: ‘The objectives are to bring numbers down to a level which will enable the natural vegetation to recover from overgrazing in recent years, avoid further soil erosion on steep ground, reduce competition with cattle and sheep and eliminate deer from the in-bye fields.’
Robbie Kernahan, of Scottish Natural Heritage, said: ‘Deer management decisions are more effective when taken locally, and we are confident Mull Deer Management Group are working in the best interests of a sustainable deer population.
‘We will provide advice and support as required, and a planned helicopter census of the Mull area will help inform future plans.’