Gamekeepers have provoked the ire of conservationists after claiming that deer herds are being culled to such an extent that rural jobs and livelihoods are at risk.

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) says Scotland is "laying its greatest wildlife assets to waste" by stepping up the killing of deer to support reforestation.

In a research paper launched yesterday, the SGA talks about a "national scandal" playing out on Scotland's hills, and urges the Scottish Government to rethink "aggressive deer-culling policies" now before it is too late.

But the findings have been challenged by conservation bodies, who disagree with the gamekeepers' assessment.

The research paper sounds the alarm bells for the rural economy and stresses the country's attachment to the species – the red deer was voted Scotland's iconic animal in a poll by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) last August.

But the SGA's report warns: "A national scandal is playing out on Scotland's hills. And while our wild red deer are the immediate casualties of the nation's indifference, the price will ultimately be paid by the decline and decay of remote rural communities the length and breadth of this country."

It claims: "Over-ambitious and ill-thought-through forestry or conservation projects are the longest-running culprits, and the most notorious crimes (large-scale culls) at Glenfeshie and Mar Lodge estates will go down in history as animal welfare atrocities. But carnages continue to be carried out in numerous locations in the name of protecting unfenced natural regeneration."

The SGA study was compiled over three years in Sutherland, where, of the 80 estates that manage deer and stalking, 10 participated. But the sample accounted for 20% of the land area and 20% of all the deer culled in the county. They reported lower deer numbers and showed that money from deer stalking and management supports 140 households and 112 full-time jobs in the county.

The report says sporting estates and local businesses that rely on deer now fear over-culling of herds could lead to job losses.

But the LINK Deer Task Force, which embraces RSPB Scotland, the John Muir Trust, the National Trust for Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust disagrees.

Duncan Orr-Ewing, who chairs the task force, said: "Native Scottish red and roe deer numbers are higher in some places in Scotland than they have ever been, whilst in other areas they have been reduced to meet public and private land management objectives. Deer are not subject to 'aggressive over-culling' on our properties, as wrongly suggested by the SGA in this press report."

Robbie Kernahan, SNH head of wildlife operations, said "deer management is complicated" and "involves many different interests, such as forestry, farming, stalking, conservation, tourism, animal welfare and road safety."