Tales from the Hill, Autumn 2024

27 November 2024

The Red Deer Rut, like the clock timer of the natural world, has just concluded for another year. This year’s rut was exceptional in as many ways as it was routine, but as always a great thing to observe. The team on the ground undertook our stag cull in line with delivering a resident wild red deer density which correlates with our environmental improvement targets. This year’s season once again saw a blisteringly hot and dry September, where the deer took to the high tops in escape of the airborne parasite burden which plagues them. This made for long days and in some cases, the need to plunge into hill pools on the way home to cool off from the exerts of the day!

Our seasonal ghillie team arrived full of enthusiasm to learn some new skills, and that they did, leaving at the end of October much fitter, competent and enthusiastic about the possibilities of a lifestyle delivering wildlife management in a remote and wild environment. Our stalkers reported the exceptionally good condition of the stags this year, an indication of the weather conditions through the summer.

This year, Kingairloch Estate were pleased to be able to offer collaborative support to our neighbour and fellow Morvern Deer Management Group member, Ardtornish Estate. Efforts like these to work together and achieve a shared goal are testament to the adaptability and skill of the team on the ground. The new deer larder at Home Farm has been a timely addition and one which has helped to maintain the standards we strive to achieve.