Injured deer tracked down on Assynt estate was 'not result of any culling on our land', say John Muir Trust
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Fresh controversy has erupted over the controversial out of season deer cull currently being carried out in Assynt by wildland conservation charity the John Muir Trust.
The finger of blame is pointing at the JMT deer cull after a badly wounded stag was tracked down on a neighbouring Ardvar Estate by a stalker not connected to the charity.
However the conservation body is strongly denying it is responsible for the injured animal, which was humanely dispatched by an Ardvar Estate gamekeeper.
JMT said the wounded deer was “not a result of any culling on our land” and revealed it had immediately contacted police after an “accusation was made without evidence”.
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The incident involving the stag was brought to public attention this week in statements released by both JMT and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, which represents stalkers in the Assynt area.
In a statement released yesterday, the association said Ardvar Estate had been alerted by after the injured stag was spotted around January 16 “heading down the Allt na Claise burn which runs off Quinag”.
The stag, which was said to be unable to eat because its “jaw was hanging off”, was pursued over five days by deerstalkers.
“At one point a seven-strong team of nearby estate stalkers, community members and tracker dogs searched for the starving stag,” said the association.
SGA member and Ardvar Estate stalker Michael Ross, who shot the stag, said: “No one from here wounded that deer. There are no reports of poaching locally. JMT is the only body around this area with a licence to shoot deer out of season and at night.
“No one is saying mistakes won’t ever be made but it is fundamental that, if a deer is wounded, you alert your neighbours and follow that animal until it is humanely dispatched.”
Mr Ross emailed JMT on January 21, attaching a photo of the stag. He also sent a copy of the email to NatureScot, which granted the out of season licence, and the local deer management representative.
JMT said: “This is a deeply distressing incident with many unanswered questions complicated by misinformation and factual inaccuracies.
“The John Muir Trust contacted the police as soon as we received the email from Ardvar Estate, as the wounded deer was not a result of any culling on our land and there was an accusation made without evidence.
“We sincerely hope police get to the bottom of this incident as soon as possible.”
The Northern Times has contacted Police Scotland to ask if an investigation is taking place.
