Natural England

1 October 2007

Changes to the law affecting deer management in England and Wales come into effect on 1 October 2007. These include new provisions for licensed control of deer in certain circumstances to prevent serious damage to the natural heritage or to prevent risk to public health or safety.

From 1 October 2007, under the Deer Act 1991 , all wild deer with the exception of Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) are protected by a close season.

The Regulatory Reform (Deer) (England and Wales) Order 2007 (No.2183) [62 kb] amends the original Act and will improve deer welfare in a number of ways. Further amendments include changing the close seasons for female deer to a common start date of 1 April, changing the minimum rifle calibres permitted for muntjac and Chinese water deer and introducing new licensing provisions.

Licences can now be issued by Natural England to allow deer to be shot in England during the close season, or at night, for preserving public health or public safety or for conserving the natural heritage, and at night for the prevention of serious damage to property. Licences can only be issued where there is a serious risk of deer causing the problems concerned and where there is no satisfactory alternative for resolving the problem.

Apply for a licence (in England).

Guidance on deer and deer management is available from The Deer Initiative. Further background and information on deer and the deer action plan is available from Defra.