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Flying high!
Best practice guide for the use of drones (UAV's) in deer management published
A new Best Practice Guide, Use of Drones (UAVs) in Deer Management, has been formally launched and is available through the Wild Deer Best Practice (WDBP) website.
With the growing use of drones in land management, the guidance is very timely.
The publication is helpfully divided into two complementary sections:
- Part 1: Rules & Regulations
This section outlines the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements that govern drone operation, ensuring that all flights undertaken for deer management purposes are both legal and safe. - Part 2: Practical Application
This section explores the operational considerations involved in using drones, including counting approaches, practical constraints, and recommendations aimed at minimising disturbance to wildlife.
The purpose of the new guidance is to provide a clear, accessible framework for lawful and responsible drone use within deer management.
Although there is considerable interest in flight plans and step‑by‑step counting methodologies, these techniques are not yet standardised or supported by sufficient evidence. As noted in Part 2, a definitive, evidence‑based method will be required before a universal ‘how‑to’ for drone-based counts can be included.
Guidance complements a range of support material available from the WDBP. The Guides were first published in 2003 by the Deer Commission for Scotland. The guides were produced in partnership with an extensive Steering Group consisting of key organisations with knowledge and expertise in deer management.
Over the years the collection has been reviewed and updated and continues to grow with the development of new guidance in line with emerging technology, improved industry standards and the introduction of new deer management tools.
The new two-part guidance can be viewed, downloaded, and printed from the Planning chapter of the WDBP site at: https://bestpracticeguides.scot/planning/
Development of the guidance was supported by contributions from BH Wildlife Consultancy, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), and NatureScot, whose expertise helped shape the final publication.
Find out more about the WDBP at Wild Deer Best Practice Website
