Alan you are a much respected contributor to the TGO message board.
I had the feeling that you would further respond to my comments. You are like a”terrier worrying a rat”, you will just not let it go.
Fergus Ewing’s "Wildlife Tourism in Scotland Guide" is spot on. Scotland has some amazing wildlife that we can be truly proud of.
Scottish wildlife is there because of these estates, Deer are the type of wildlife the public associate most with Scotland, according to a survey commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). This is mostly due to the husbandry of these hunting estates.

Hunting estates do contribute to the Scottish economy, at whatever level; they do bring in valuable employment to the local communities. They have been there for hundreds of years.
I am appalled when I read about the raptors that have been poisoned (that’s illegal) on a small minority of these estates and the culprit should be brought to justice, but we should not tar every estate with the same brush, they are not all criminals, ask the queen.
Estates need to cull certain predators.
I hate the thought of a weasel or stoat being caught in one of these traps, (legal) they are beautiful animals and are efficient killing machines, but if it’s necessary to maintain a supply of birds to maintain employment then I can live with that.
Time to come off our soap boxes, we just have different opinions.