Countryfile was back on BBC One and Matt Baker introduced the first location tonight’s episode was filmed from, the Auchlyne Estate near Killin in Perthshire, Scotland – a place where the show is going to be for the next year as they follow life through the upcoming seasons, as well as exploring the landscapes and meeting the people who live and work there. After meeting Emma Patterson, the current Laird of Auchlyne and being shown around a few acres, it was over to Charlotte Smith who met with Emma’s daughter, Nicola, the Young Laird of the estate to weigh up the pros and cons of deer stalking and culling. But those watching at home were divided by the activity.
“Deer stalking, a traditional pursuit that brings in much needed income to the estate,” Charlotte voiced over as beautiful scenes of the Scottish landscape came into view.
“But it’s controversial. Shooting for sport doesn’t sit comfortably with 21st century sensibilities. It’s a way of life here, and walkways has been. It doesn’t just bring in cash, it helps control deer numbers and estates like Auchlyne have to cull a set number of deer each year under guidelines laid down by Scottish Natural Heritage.”
After meeting Nicola, Charlotte explained: “This is described as a traditional sporting estate. What does that mean?”
“It come back to what the family originally bought the estate for, and it was to come and do the deer stalking – but now that’s much more part of a wider range of enterprises in earths of stalking, there’s also the farming side of it, the fishing. Part of that is managing the habitats, so the deer stalking is integral to looking after all of the hill and the plans that Scotland is famous for,” Nicola revealed.
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Viewers then saw Charlotte and Nicola head off into the hills to test her ability of shooting and the Countryfile presenter was tasked with hitting a tiny target from 100 yards.
“This way, Nicola can see if you’re going to be able to kill a deer quickly and clearly,” Charlotte added. “If you don’t hit the target, you don’t shoot the deer.”
Estate Gamekeeper Ian Dingwall then put Charlotte to the test, and after a few rounds, it was clear shooting was not the presenters strong point.
“I’ve proved one thing, I will not be shooting at deer,” Charlotte commented.
“In the last 40 years, red deer numbers in Scotland have more than doubled to around 360,000, many reckon that number is unsustainable,” Charlotte told those watching at home.
“Deer numbers are reckoned to be having a big impact on the environment. Overgrazing and the loss of biodiversity have been recognised by bodies like the Scottish Wildlife Trust and RSPB Scotland who recently called for legally enforceable culls. It would be down to landowners to comply.”
Ian explained how it worked on this specific estate: “We do deer counts within our deer groups, to asses what numbers we all have.”
“So the amount you kill depends on how many you have in the first place?” Charlotte replied and Ian confirmed this was right.
“So this year we had about 36 stags I think we shot. We’ve still got about 15 hinds to shoot or so,” Ian continued.
“Nicola, why shoot them at all? Because here we are, I mean we’re in the middle of nowhere, they could just be couldn’t they?” Charlotte asked.
“Humans got rid of all the natural predators,” Nicola stated. “We have to be that balancing factor.”
“What you’re selling though, really, is the experience of killing this beautiful iconic animal. Isn’t that odd?” The presenter argued.
“Yes, I suppose to some people it is. Different people’s perceptions of it, yes absolutely, some people might think we are killing the Monarch of the Glen,” the heir to the land explained.
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“But we don’t take trophies on this estate. We don’t take the huge big stags with the big, big heads. What we try and do is cull the old, the sick animals on the hill, to improve the actual deer herd themselves.”
“Wouldn’t it work financially at least, to sell the experience of going stalking, but instead of having the shot at the end, just taking pictures?” Charlotte probed further.
“Absolutely, absolutely,” Nicola agreed. “It is something Ian and I have discussed in the past.”
“I mean we still do have to cull, manage the deer that we have,” Ian added. “It’s a tough job that=t’s got to be done.”
However, BBC One viewers couldn’t understand the purpose of the culling and took to Twitter to share their thoughts.
One said: “Why are they shooting? Why are you glamourising it? #Countryfile,” while another added: “Neuter them IF their numbers are too high. #countryfile.”
“#Countryfile What the hell is this…killing deer!!” A twitter user outraged.
An alternative viewer added: “#countryfile I’m not sure I think that deer stalking is part of the management of an estate. Traditional sporting activities centres on shooting or catching and killing animals for… fun?”
“What I don’t understand is why, if deer etc have to be culled why does it have to be a sport? Also the deer are difficult to find so how can there be too many? It’s just licensed cruelty. #countryfile,” someone else commented.
Countryfile returns next Sunday on BBC One.
