Scotland's red deer population is the largest in Europe, creating wildlife management challenges where welfare considerations must inform how populations are managed.
Red deer welfare in Scotland reflects the tension between conservation, landowning economics, and animal welfare: too few deer are shot, populations grow beyond carrying capacity, and starvation welfare harm increases; poor shooting results in wounded animals dying slowly; disease in overcrowded populations reduces individual welfare. The most welfare-positive management approach maintains stable populations at or below carrying capacity, requires high shooting skill standards, and integrates with predator recovery programmes that would provide natural regulation over time.