The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) says Scotland is "laying its greatest wildlife assets to waste" by stepping up the killing of deer to support reforestation.
In a research paper launched yesterday, the SGA talks about a "national scandal" playing out on Scotland's hills, and urges the Scottish Government to rethink "aggressive deer-culling policies" now before it is too late.
But the findings have been challenged by conservation bodies, who disagree with the gamekeepers' assessment.
The research paper sounds the alarm bells for the rural economy and stresses the country's attachment to the species – the red deer was voted Scotland's iconic animal in a poll by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) last August.
But the SGA's report warns: "A national scandal is playing out on Scotland's hills. And while our wild red deer are the immediate casualties of the nation's indifference, the price will ultimately be paid by the decline and decay of remote rural communities the length and breadth of this country."
It claims: "Over-ambitious and ill-thought-through forestry or conservation projects are the longest-running culprits, and the most notorious crimes (large-scale culls) at Glenfeshie and Mar Lodge estates will go down in history as animal welfare atrocities. But carnages continue to be carried out in numerous locations in the name of protecting unfenced natural regeneration."
The SGA study was compiled over three years in Sutherland, where, of the 80 estates that manage deer and stalking, 10 participated. But the sample accounted for 20% of the land area and 20% of all the deer culled in the county. They reported lower deer numbers and showed that money from deer stalking and management supports 140 households and 112 full-time jobs in the county.
The report says sporting estates and local businesses that rely on deer now fear over-culling of herds could lead to job losses.
But the LINK Deer Task Force, which embraces RSPB Scotland, the John Muir Trust, the National Trust for Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust disagrees.
Duncan Orr-Ewing, who chairs the task force, said: "Native Scottish red and roe deer numbers are higher in some places in Scotland than they have ever been, whilst in other areas they have been reduced to meet public and private land management objectives. Deer are not subject to 'aggressive over-culling' on our properties, as wrongly suggested by the SGA in this press report."
Robbie Kernahan, SNH head of wildlife operations, said "deer management is complicated" and "involves many different interests, such as forestry, farming, stalking, conservation, tourism, animal welfare and road safety."
Deer culls in the name of conservation are "aggressive" and harm populations that support sporting estates, a gamekeepers body has said.
The Scottish Gamekeepers Association suggests culls in parts of Sutherland are so excessive they threaten the economic stability of shooting estates.
The Link Deer Task Force, which includes conservation charities, said wild deer had to be controlled.
It said culls were not excessive and protected natural habitats.
A research paper on culls will be presented to a SGA conference in Inverness.
It suggests continued "hefty" culling in Sutherland to meet conservation objectives remove too many deer and could seriously affect the economic stability of the area.
The report's author Peter Fraser said Scotland was devastating one of its greatest wildlife assets.
He said over-ambitious and ill-thought-through forestry and conservation projects were examples of why excessive culling took place.
SGA estimate the economic value of stalking, shooting and freshwater angling to the Scottish economy as £200m a year.
However, the Link Deer Task Force said native red and roe deer numbers in some areas were at record highs.
The organisation also involves RSPB Scotland, John Muir Trust, National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Chairman Duncan Orr-Ewing said: "Deer are not subject to 'aggressive over-culling' on our properties, as wrongly suggested by the SGA.
"Due to the removal of natural predators, deer management is required to meet a range of land management objectives, including sporting, conservation, protection of woodlands and public safety.
"High red deer populations in some areas of Scotland are causing substantial damage to the natural heritage, and it is a legal requirement on landowners to improve the quality of certain habitats which are of international importance."
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