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Midges, Grallochs and Sunrises: My Year as a Trainee Deer Stalker

Deer stalking in Scotland plays a crucial role in conservation by helping to manage deer populations, which, if left unchecked, can cause overgrazing of vegetation and damage to ecosystems. By controlling deer numbers, stalkers prevent damage to woodlands, peatlands, and other priority habitats, restoring biodiversity. Additionally, it helps maintain a balance between deer and other wildlife, supporting the broader health of the environment.

The Scottish Government estimate that there are as many as one million deer in Scotland, representing a potential doubling of the population in the past 20 years. This unnaturally high number of deer is damaging our environment by degrading peatland and suppressing natural tree regeneration.  

This blog was first published on Cairngorms Connect in 2024.

In August 2023, Florence Hole began her paid traineeship as a Deer Stalker for Cairngorms Connect. A year on, and now employed as part of the Deer Stalking team, Flo reflects on what she’s learned and the benefits of traineeships.

My year has almost exclusively been focused on learning how to stalk. This year, I managed to achieve my DSC (Deer Stalking Certification) Level 1 and Level 2. Since January, I have been out stalking independently. There is a lot to learn, and I still have a long way to go!

The process of stalking involves learning how to safely use a rifle; find and approach Deer without being detected; shoot Deer safely and effectively; gralloch in the field (the process of removing the internal organs of the Deer); get the Deer carcass to the larder (this isn’t always possible in very remote places) which can require using quad bikes; process Deer ready for collection by the game dealer; and skinning Deer for private sales.

I have been put through my traumatic injury first aid course, quad bike ticket, 4×4 ticket, Argo (all-terrain vehicle) ticket and been awarded my firearms license.

Deer stalking in all weathers! Flo walks across a snowy landscape wearing a snow camouflage jacket. Photo by Jack Ward. 

Not every day is spent stalking. The job also involves more general landscape restoration work. This has been anything from planting trees in Strathnethy, tree seed collection and helping carry trees to Loch A’an. I also get the opportunity to talk to community groups about stalking and do larder demonstrations, most recently at the last Cairngorms Connect Venison Masterclass.

I’ve been able to work on sites across the partnership. I stalk regularly on RSPB Scotland Abernethy and Insh Marshes reserves and on NatureScot’s Invereshie reserve. I have also had the opportunity to go out with the stalkers at Wildland Cairngorms a couple of times. It was great hosting the Wildland Deer Management team at Abernethy to share knowledge across the partnership.

Flo stalking. Photo by Lizzie Brotherston

I’ve loved every minute and get to work with a great team in a stunning landscape. The joy of getting to stalk here is even if you don’t see Deer, you often get to encounter incredible wildlife. Just last month while out on Invereshie, after hours stalking in the midge and only seeing female Deer (which were out of season), pausing for a break at Allt A’Mharcaidh we got to see the Golden Eagle pair rising from the glen on their first thermal of the day.

A collage of photos from Flo’s highlights during her year as the Cairngorms Connect Trainee Deer Stalker. Photos by Flo Hole, Jack Ward, and Lizzie Brotherston

There are so many highlights, it is hard to choose one to share!

  • It’s always great being rewarded with a beautiful sunrise after having to get up at 4am.
  • Some days have involved some good adventures, for example having to use the rowboat at RSPB Scotland Insh Marshes to bring Deer back from the marsh.
  • I get to work with some very adorable but highly trained dogs!
  • Finding new patches of Dwarf Birch on Abernethy where they have been able to grow above the heather again.
  • Reuniting a lost gosling on Insh Marshes with it’s family.
  • An amazing trip to Norway to learn what we are aiming for here in the Cairngorms. What a beautiful place and lovely group of people.

This traineeship has been the most incredible chance for me to work in a part of the conservation industry that I don’t think I would have had access to otherwise, and I am extremely grateful for the effort everyone has put in to make it work.

Training someone up requires a lot of time and investment, but this is needed to ensure young people can get their foot in the door.

It is great to now be employed in a position where I can start giving back and being useful!

My vision for this landscape in 200 years is to see the regeneration that’s coming up now, as a result of reducing Deer numbers and targeted planting, evolve into established forest with mature trees veteranizing and new saplings continuing to grow in the understory.

Words by Florence Hole, Cairngorms Connect Trainee Deer Stalker

Cairngorms Connect is a partnership of neighbouring land managers, committed to a bold and ambitious 200-year vision to enhance habitats, species and ecological processes across a vast area within the Cairngorms National Park.

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