The estate's winter red deer population currently stands at approximately 1,500 stags and 3,500 hinds plus calves. Just over half of this total are resident on the Perthshire side of the estate. In line with advice from the Deer Commission for Scotland, it is estate policy to reduce numbers to protect and enhance the natural heritage. Shooting for around 280 stags is let each year. The highest bag over the past ten years was achieved in 1998 when 3,800 brace of grouse were shot. In 2004 the Home Beat of Invercauld shot a record of 1,250 brace for the season. The four main beat areas are also managed as red grouse moor. The bag for 1998 was 3,800 brace of grouse, the highest for the last ten years. Management of moorland for grouse by legal control of predators (particularly crows and foxes), strip burning of heather and controlled grazing also benefits other moorland birds. Reduction of ticks is an important management activity.

The Estate lets the fishing on the River Dee between Braemar Castle and Ballater. For some years salmon numbers have been low and the annual catch declined from over 800 in 1978 to less than 30 in 1999. Recent catches have improved greatly with well over 200 fish caught in 2005. Fishing progress and availability can be seen on www.fishdee.co.uk .

The estate's commercial forestry is mostly north of the River Dee. Plantations of mainly Scots pine, with some larch, cover around 1,000 hectares. Most of the semi-natural woodland is mixed pine and birch woodland, with areas of broadleaf and conifers also present. The estate actively promotes the enhancement of habitat to encourage stocks of capercaillie and black grouse.

The estate employs around 30 full-time employees, including maintenance staff and an estate office.

Visitors are welcome for hillwalking and mountain biking using the network of estate tracks. A number of routes are waymarked and the "Hillphone" service gives information on shooting and stalking activities, so that the visitors can plan routes accordingly. Wild camping is permitted on most parts of the estate. The estate operates a Ranger service.

The current estate strategy is to support a number of enterprises which use land resources sustainably to provide income and employment from sporting activities (in particular red deer stalking and red grouse shooting), agriculture, forestry and tourism, while at the same time protecting and enhancing the natural heritage. The provision of housing and employment for local people is a key objective of the estate.

www.invercauld.org