Capercaillie breeding season awareness

The Scottish Orienteering Association has previously entered into an agreement with the Capercaillie Project that areas which are sensitive for capercaillie will not be used between 1st March and 31st August. The main reason for this agreement was to ensuring a buffer zone around the active lek sites and avoid disturbance to hens and chicks during the breeding season for this protected species.

The current areas identified lie within areas mapped by BASOC, GRAMP, INT, INVOC, MAROC, MOR, STAG and TAY. We know that it can be tempting to run on an old map if you are visiting an area and so we are reminding everyone, especially if you are in on one of the above club areas, that it it is a matter of courtesy to check with the club that there are no capercaillie restrictions or any other issues which the club is aware of that would mean you should not be training in these areas. The Fixtures Secretary, or another identified person, within each of these clubs has copies of the maps of the current capercaillie areas which have been identified as falling within the previous agreement but in terms of the agreement they cannot be circulated further than these individuals.

The SOA will continue to work with the Scottish Capercaillie Group to ensure that orienteering does not come into conflict with capercaillie protection and that we continue to be able to use these areas outwith the breeding season. We are hoping that an online resource indicating sensitive areas will be available later in the year to access via the website and more information will be circulated when this is available. Should you be interested in finding out more about Capercaillie please visit the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project website