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UK Deer Seasons | Species | Sex | England, Wales &
Northern Ireland | Scotland | | Red | | | | | | Stags | Aug 1st - April 30th | July 1st - Oct 20th | | | Hinds (E&W) (NI) | Nov 1st - Mar 31st Nov 1st - Feb 28th | Oct 21st - Feb 15th | | Fallow | | | | | | Bucks | Aug 1st - April 30th | Aug 1st - April 30th | | | Does (E&W) (NI) | Nov 1st - Mar 31st Nov 1st - Feb 28th | Oct 21st - Feb 15th | | Sika | | | | | | Stags | Aug 1st - April 30th | July 1st - Oct 20th | | | Hinds (E&W) (NI) | Nov 1st - Mar 31st Nov 1st - Feb 28th | Oct 21st - Feb 15th | | Roe | | not currently found in Northern Ireland | | | | Buck | April 1st - Oct 31st | April 1st - Oct 20th | | | Does | Nov 1st - Mar 31st | Oct 21st - Mar 31st | HybrRed/Sikaids | | | | | | Stags | Aug 1st - April 30th | July 1st - Oct 20th | | | Hinds (E&W) (NI) | Nov 1st - Mar 31st Nov 1st - Feb 28th | Oct 21st - Feb 15th | | Chinese water Deer | | (only found in England) | | | | Bucks | Nov 1st - Mar 31st | | | | Does | Nov 1st - Mar 31st | | | Muntjac (see below) | | (not currently found in NI) | | | | | All year round | | | | There is no statutory closed season for this species. It is recommended that when culling female muntjac immature or heavily pregnant does are selected to avoid leaving dependent young. |
The Regulatory Reform (Deer) (England and Wales) Order 2007 will amend the Deer Act to improve the management and welfare of deer, following the doubling of the population over the last 25 years. The order, which will come into force on 01 October 2007, will: • make it permissible to use .22 centre-fire rifles for shooting the non-native Muntjac and Chinese water deer; • will introduce licensing provisions for the killing or taking of deer during the close season and at night; • it will shorten the close season for all female deer by moving the commencement date to 1 April; • and it will amend the meaning of “mechanically propelled vehicle” in the Deer Act to permit the shooting of deer, provided that the vehicle is stationary and the engine is switched off. In Scotland, the law is contained in the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 • The responsibility for deer has been passed to the devolved Scottish Parliament. The Act set up the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) to “further the conservation, control and sustainable management of deer in Scotland and to keep under review all matters, including their welfare relating to deer.” • DCS examines the size of the deer population and its impact on the environment. It also balances the needs of agriculture, forestry, landowners and occupiers and must take account of public safety. It reports to the Scottish Executive, where the relevant minister controls the close seasons. The DCS can set up voluntary control agreements for deer populations where needed, or impose a mandatory control scheme. • The occupier of enclosed land may authorise shooting out of season in cases of serious damage to crops or timber. The occupier, his family or servants or someone authorised by the DCS, must do such shooting in daylight. • DCS written authority is required to breach the close season in other circumstances, such as for scientific research or as part of a control scheme or agreement. • Poaching is specified as taking or killing any deer, removing any deer carcass or to wilfully kill or injure a deer with anything other than a legal firearm. • Night shooting is outlawed without written permission from the DCS. A code of conduct governs such authorised shooting. Humane killing of injured deer or orphaned young is permitted by any appropriate means. • Using vehicles to drive deer with the intention of taking, killing or injuring them is similarly banned without written consent and adherence to a code of conduct. It is illegal to shoot from a moving vehicle.
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