I don&#x27;t believe they are kept at artificially high numbers, but their population is actively managed. Culls often remove poor specimens, such as switches, to improve the wild stock.<p>It does make sense to manage the Scottish red deer population through limited hunting of both stags and hinds in the relevant seasons. Red deer are a valuable source of revenue for the highlands, both in direct fees associated with stalking, but also from tourist Pounds invested in local communities and employment.[1]<p>I can appreciate why there is some concern regarding the potential introduction of wolves and their effect on the deer population. However, I think that also needs to be considered in light of the economic benefits of such a re-wilding. How much revenue would wolf hunting and tourism bring to the highlands?<p>[1] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.scottish.parliament.uk&#x2F;ResearchBriefingsAndFactsheets&#x2F;S4&#x2F;SB_13-74.pdf" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.scottish.parliament.uk&#x2F;ResearchBriefingsAndFactsh...</a>