Stags
Wild red deer have been managed for sport and food in Scotland for centuries and few areas are more renowned for this than the Forest of Atholl.

As part of our management of the open range deer population we must shoot in the region of 350 stags each season over our five Highland beats and this is almost entirely accomplished through traditional stalking parties with guests.

Typically the party will consist of the Guest, an Estate Stalker and a Ghillie with pony who will set out after breakfast, by foot, onto the moor. The Stalker will lead the party and carry the rifle while ensuring the guest is looked after and enjoys the full beauty and understanding of the heather moorland.

The day will be run in time honoured tradition and if the stalk results in a successful kill, the stag will be carried back to the larder by pony for preparation and collection by the venison dealer.

The Estates have maintained the tradition of using Highland Ponies to retrieve deer from the hill as they are both more adept than vehicles at access over the whole moor and more sympathetic to the peace and serenity of the environment. Ponies cannot be used on the Clunes beat due to the extent of hill drainage but the inevitable use of vehicles there is kept discrete and does not interfere with our Guest’s enjoyment of the day.

The ponies are bred and trained on Atholl and are also used to take out trekking guests during the spring and summer.


Red Hinds
Given the extent of our hind cull obligations, the limited time permitted by the open season and the increasingly mild winters which disperse the herds over the moor, the great majority of this work is carried out by our Stalkers.

Any hind stalking which we are able to release to Guests is restricted to parties who also stay at one of our Lodges and may take a few days sport for three or four rifles over a number of beats. All hind stalking is accompanied and with ponies where conditions permit.

Roe Deer
There is a limited population of open hill roe deer managed for stalking in the northern region of Atholl which provide for a cull of around 20 bucks each year.

It is our policy to reserve most of this sport for our Lodge guests during the season but occasionally some weekly packages can be arranged in June or July when conditions permit.

Fallow Deer
There is a well known Fallow herd in the southern region of Highland Perthshire and this covers the area of Atholl between Dunkeld and Pitlochry.

However, due to the importance of our Forestry interests, we are currently having to reduce the Fallow population in that area which has meant temporarily stopping our Fallow Buck let stalking.

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