Scotland's red deer population requires active management to prevent overgrazing and starvation, with welfare implications for the animals culled, those that survive harsh winters, and deer involved in deer farming.
Red deer shot with well-placed single rounds die rapidly with minimal welfare cost. However, poorly placed shots result in wounded deer that escape and suffer for extended periods — wound ballistics education reduces wounding rates. Deer that become separated from herds in winter deep snow face starvation and hypothermia in severe conditions. Deer farm welfare depends on adequate space, shelter, and supplementary feeding; farmed deer that remain wild-tempered experience high handling stress. Deer fencing across thousands of kilometres causes fragmentation of natural movement patterns and vehicle strike risk.