Niall Rowantree tours the Highlands to find out how deer and deerstalkers have fared during the year of the pandemic. The answer is not well, and thank goodness for gamekeepers and deerstalkers. Scottish government agencies and wildlife charities abandoned the Highlands in 2020, a year that saw people who don’t often visit the countryside pour out of Scotland’s cities and cause all kinds of environmental problems. Meanwhile, the relentless destruction of Scotland’s deer herd continues and Niall is out stalking hinds to get them off land the government is paying to turn over to trees. He talks to people from Ardgay Game to deer scientist Dr Cathy Mayne to find out the outlook for Scotland’s deer herd and its countryside.
This film is sponsored by Blaser. Visit Blaser.de
To go stalking with Niall, visit WestHighland-Hunting.co.uk
For Ardgay Game, go to ArdgayGame.co.uk
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