Deer Count - Deer Groups

Deer group locations and sizes are used in assessing deer populations living on the ‘open range’. ‘Open range’ generally means open areas of habitat used mainly by red deer (for example, heather moorland). From the outset it is important to be clear that although the terms ‘count’ or ‘census’ are used, open range counting enables a population estimate to be made, but with associated error margins. Research has shown that, normally, estimates will vary by between 5 and 16%. In other words if you count 415 deer then the population estimate is at best between 348 and 481 (or at very best between 394 and 435). Open range population counts (and their resulting estimates) are therefore most likely to be useful for setting broad targets or giving an index of deer numbers as opposed to very precise population models. They are also useful for indicating trends in a series of counts.

Count information can be obtained by joining table DEER_COUNT_INDEX based on COUNT_ID columns.

Both Helicopter and ground counts are included in the data. The majority of the data were collected in ‘white ground’ conditions where the contrast between deer and the background of snow is maximised enabling deer to be more easily spotted.

Summer counts of 'Priority' sites are also included where sites have been counted more intensively.

Attribute Name / Item Name / Description

DIGI_CALVS / Digital Calves / DIGI = counted from a digital photo

SUM_STAGS / SUM Stags / DIGI + VIS combined

SUM_HINDS / SUM Hinds / DIGI + VIS combined

SUM_CALVES / SUM Calves / DIGI + VIS combined

SUM_UNCL / SUM Unclassified / DIGI + VIS combined UNCL = unclassified – so generally hinds and calves combined.

SUM_TOTAL / SUM Total / Overall total for that group (not necessarily for the 1km2 as there may be 3 or 4 groups in the 1km2 at that point in time.

COUNT_ID / COUNT_ID / Provides link to accompanying csv file.

DIGI_HINDS / Digital Hinds / DIGI = counted from a digital photo

VIS_TOTAL / Visual Total / VIS = counted visually during the count

DIGI_UNCL / Digital Unclassified / DIGI = counted from a digital photo UNCL = unclassified – so generally hinds and calves combined.

DIGI_TOTAL / Digital Total / DIGI = counted from a digital photo

VIS_STAG / Visual Stag / VIS = counted visually during the count

VIS_HINDS / Visual Hinds / VIS = counted visually during the count

VIS_CALVS / Visual Calves / VIS = counted visually during the count

VIS_UNCL / Visual Unclassified / VIS = counted visually during the count UNCL = unclassified – so generally hinds and calves combined.

DIGI_STAG / Digital Stag / DIGI = counted from a digital photo

Identification info

Metadata Language: English (en)

Character set

Dataset Reference Date (): 2010-10-29

Dataset Reference Date (): 2021-11-23

Identifier: 01DB019C-E7CE-2919-E063-6B20C80AB042

Presentation form

Purpose: Point dataset showing the location of deer groups recorded on counting operations undertaken by or with assistance from Scottish Natural Heritage (or the Deer Commission for Scotland as was).

Credit: © NatureScot (Scottish Natural Heritage)

NatureScot - Donald Fraser ( Operations Manager, Wildlife Operations Unit )

Great Glen House , Inverness , Highland , IV3 8NW ,

01463725365

Maintenance and update frequency

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 ()

Habitats and biotopes
Species distribution

Use limitation: Available under the Open Government Licence.

Acknowledgment: Contains NatureScot information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Limitations on Public Access

Use constraints

Other constraints: Available under the Open Government Licence.

Acknowledgment: Contains NatureScot information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Limitations on Public Access

Other constraints: no limitations to public access

Use constraints

Other constraints: Available under the Open Government Licence.

Acknowledgment: Contains NatureScot information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Use limitation: Available under the Open Government Licence.

Acknowledgment: Contains NatureScot information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Limitations on Public Access

Use constraints

Other constraints: Available under the Open Government Licence.

Acknowledgment: Contains NatureScot information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Use constraints

Other constraints: no conditions to access and use

Spatial representation type

Topic category

Biota
Environment

Reference system identifier: EPSG / 27700 / 6.3(3.0.1)

Distribution Information

Data format

Data format

ESRI Shapefile ()
ESRI file geodatabase ()
GeoJSON ()
GML ()
Geopackage ()

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Resource Locator: ESRI Shapefile (EPSG:27700) ( WWW:DOWNLOAD-1.0-http--download )

Resource Locator: GML 3.1.1 (EPSG:4258) ( WWW:DOWNLOAD-1.0-http--download )

Resource Locator: GeoPackage (EPSG:27700) ( WWW:DOWNLOAD-1.0-http--download )

Resource Locator: ESRI File Geodatabase (EPSG:27700) ( WWW:DOWNLOAD-1.0-http--download )

Resource Locator: GeoJSON (EPSG:4326) ( WWW:DOWNLOAD-1.0-http--download )

Resource Locator: dcp ( OGC:WMS-1.3.0-http-get-capabilities )
dcp

Resource Locator: habitatsandspecies:dcp ( OGC:WFS-1.0.0-http-get-capabilities )
habitatsandspecies:dcp

Resource Locator: NatureScot OpenData Hub ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )

Quality Scope

Report

Dataset Reference Date (): 2010-12-08

Explanation: This data set is conformant with the INSPIRE Implementing Rules for the interoperability of spatial data sets and services

Degree

Statement: Point dataset showing the location of deer groups recorded on counting operations undertaken by or with assisstance from Scottish Natural Heritage (or the Deer Commission for Scotland as was).

Count information can be obtained by joining table DEER_COUNT_INDEX based on COUNT_ID columns.Both Helicopter and ground counts are included in the data. The majority of the data were collected in ‘white ground’ conditions where the contrast between deer and the background of snow is maximised enabling deer to be more easily spotted.Summer counts of 'Priority' sites are also included where sites have been counted more intensively.

Metadata

File identifier: 29d45d6a-43f6-4c6e-a15a-756a3ee051d2 XML

Metadata Language: English (en)

Character set

Resource type

Hierarchy level name: dataset

Metadata Date: 2023-10-20T11:01:12

Metadata standard name: INSPIRE Metadata Implementing Rules: Technical Guidelines based on EN ISO 19115 and EN ISO 19119

Metadata standard version: V. 2.0.1

NatureScot - Geographic Information Group ( Data Supply )

01463 725000

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