After Ian.F gave us the heads up on the proposals made by the DCS, here are the list of questions:

Q1A. What is your view on the proposal that the right to take or
kill deer should be balanced by a statutory responsibility on
landowners to manage them sustainably?
Q1B. Is there a better way in which landowners’ responsibility to
manage deer might be framed?
Q2. What is your view on whether collaborative deer
management structures should continue to be voluntary in the
first instance?
Q3. Do you consider that there is a need to ensure there is
wider (e.g. community) engagement in deer management? If so,
how?
Q4. What is your view on the proposal that land managers
should be required to prepare and implement a statutory Deer
Management Plan where voluntary deer management structures
are failing to deliver in the public interest?
Q5. What is your view on the proposal that failure to comply
with a statutory Deer Management Plan should be an offence, and
that DCS should be able to recover costs from landowners or
occupiers where it has to take action to enforce the plan?
Q6. What is your view on the proposal that DCS’ existing
powers to constitute Deer Panels should be extended to enable
DCS to require the Deer Panel to prepare and implement a Deer
Management Plan, where a particular local deer management
issue arises?
Q7. What is your view on the proposal that DCS’ current
powers to intervene in deer management should be extended to a wider range of circumstances (set out above) than is currently the
case?
Q8. What is your view on the proposal that further action is
required to improve the skills and competence of those involved
in taking/killing deer?
Q9A. Do you consider that everyone who shoots deer
unsupervised in Scotland should first have to demonstrate that
they have skills and knowledge in public safety, deer welfare and
food safety? Yes/no/don’t know.
Q9B. If not, do you consider there is a better way to safeguard
the welfare of deer than requiring stalkers to demonstrate a
minimum level of skills and knowledge?
Q10. What is your view on the proposal that it should be an
offence to take/kill deer unless you have demonstrated skills and
knowledge, or are supervised by someone who is on the register?
Q11. What level of practical and theoretical skills and
knowledge do you consider should have to be demonstrated by
those who shoot deer unaccompanied?
Q12. Should exemptions from demonstrating skills and
knowledge (“grandfathers’ rights”) be available to those who
have substantial experience of deer management? How might this
be defined?
Q13A. Should the names of those who have demonstrated the
required level of skills and knowledge be held on a register,
administered by DCS?
Q13B. Do you have other suggestions for how such a register
could be administered?
Q14. What is your view on whether, consequential to effective
local deer management structures being in place and a
requirement for those who shoot deer to demonstrate skills and
knowledge, the female Close Season could be reduced to cover
the period of greatest risk to dependent juveniles?
Q15. What is your view on whether, consequential to effective
local deer management structures being in place and a
requirement for those who shoot deer to demonstrate skills and
knowledge, the national male Close Season could, over time, be
removed?
Q16. Do you have a view on whether, consequential to
effective local deer management structures being in place and a
requirement for those who shoot deer to demonstrate skills and
knowledge, there could be flexibility to have male Close Seasons
set at a local level?
Q17. Do you have a view on whether, if a requirement to
demonstrate skills and knowledge was established, owneroccupiers
should no longer be able to shoot deer in the Close
Seasons without authorisation?
Q18. What is your view on the proposal that the requirement to
obtain an authorisation to shoot deer at night on a particular
property should be replaced by the requirement on the individual
to be recorded on the proposed register of competence as having
appropriate skills and knowledge?
Q19. What is your view on the proposal that the requirement to
obtain an authorisation to drive deer with vehicles for the purpose
of culling should be replaced by a new offence of driving deer,
reckless as to the consequences for their welfare?
Q20. Should cull returns be provided by owners/occupiers or
by individuals who are on the proposed register of competence?


[b]THE RESPONSE FORM IS ON PAGE 76....

BASC'S RESPONSE IS:

Nicolle Upton, BASC Scotland's press and policy officer, said; “This is a large document, but do not be put off by its size. While the sections on reforming the Game Acts and on muirburn reflect much needed change and opportunity for improvements in game and land management, the same cannot be said for the proposals on deer management. Mandatory testing of all stalkers, removal of stag and buck close seasons and a possible increase in night shooting is causing massive concern for all stalkers, both professional and recreational.

"We will be urging as many shooters as possible to look at the consultation and BASC Scotland's draft response, which will be available shortly. It is vital that we all use the next three months to ensure that the new legislation in 2010 will help rather than hinder, and will not place barriers such as shooting tests in the way of much needed sustainable deer management."

REGARDS
GRIFF

Thanks for the summation griff

Rgds Ian

Its a madness.
The whole point of devolution was to hand power back to the people of Scotland.
So what happens?
Under pressure from Forestry interests, they appoint a quango to control a percieved "deer problem" the quango takes executive power off them and that quango now seeks even more powers of control.
So devolution has brought less power and disenfranchised both the Scots and anyone involved in the stalking industry there.

I have just spent an hour e-mailing a couple of M.S.P.'s my views as regards the proposed changes to the framework that is currently in place & the financial losses that could come about for those that rely somewhat on visiting stalkers for their livelihoods, if any goodly portion of the 15000 or so that stalk north of the border decide to take their business elsewhere, For me personally Herefordshire is a mere blink of an eye against travel to Arran or Galloway areas, & Dorset would make a nice change!, If you lot value what's over the border get in contact with these M.S.P.'s & let them know whats going on!