For members reading media reports about mountain hares this morning , please see the SGA response here, in full. It is possible only certain elements of the response have been reported.
A Spokesman for The Scottish Gamekeepers Association said: "The activist organisations constantly calling for this in press releases would be better to explain to the public why they themselves have such comparatively poor populations of mountain hares on their holdings and why their management is producing so few.
"This is the elephant in the room which has never been properly addressed, amidst the campaigns. When the new guidance on best methodologies to count mountain hares is published, the SGA will be asking Scottish Government to ensure hares are counted on all holdings, including nature reserves and re-wilding areas not just grouse moors, so the public can finally get a transparent picture of where hares are declining and why.
“Voluntary restraint is being exercised on grouse moors. Where hares are over-running, populations are being controlled to prevent disease and habitat damage. Where their numbers are lower, there is less or no need for management. It is the same with deer. In our view, that is what voluntary restraint is.”
*The SGA would also like to receive reports and images, by SGA members, of any mountain hares seen on nature reserves or areas of rewilding run by charities or outdoor organisations. If you are accessing any such areas for walking or leisure, please report any sightings of mountain hares and numbers seen to 'SGA mountain hare study' and email them to the SGA office.
