Deer Stalking UK - Legislation

UK Deer Legislation

deerlaw For the international hunter deer stalking in the UK offers some excellent opportunities. The following is a guide to the law regarding deer stalking and management across the UK.

Deer legislation across the UK is not uniform. In both Scotland and Northern Ireland the legislation is different from that in England and Wales. For the international hunter this is important to remember, as often hunters may decide to stalk say, one species of deer in Scotland and another in England.

The following are just some of the more important legal points to remember.

Although the Deer Acts allow occupiers to protect their crops from excessive damage, and to permit the killing of an animal to prevent suffering, the stalker must not:

A) Use anything except legal firearms to kill deer
B) Shoot out of season unless authorised to do so
C) Shoot at night (one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise) except under licence
D) Shoot from a moving vehicle, or use a vehicle to drive deer.
E) Sell venison in Scotland, except to a licensed venison dealer.
(Please note a Game Licence is no longer needed to kill or take deer, anywhere in the UK).

Firearms & Ammunition

Zeiss8 The stalker may only use a rifle and ammunition which is legal for the species of deer being shot. In addition to adherence with the law, the stalker should be guided by knowledge, experience and personal preference in their choice of a rifle and calibre. The legal requirements are laid down in the Deer Acts.

For example:

ENGLAND & WALES

For Muntjac and Chinese Water deer only- a rifle with a minimum calibre of not less than .220 inches and muzzle energy of not less than 1000 foot pounds and a bullet weight of not less than 50 grains may be used.

For all deer of any species - a minimum calibre of .240 and minimum muzzle energy of 1,700 foot pounds is the legal requirement.

NORTHERN IRELAND

For all deer of any species - a minimum calibre of .236 inches, a minimum bullet weight of 100 grains and minimum muzzle energy of 1,700 foot pounds is the legal requirement.

SCOTLAND

For roe deer, where the bullet must weigh at least 50 grains AND have a minimum muzzle velocity of 2,450 feet per second and a minimum muzzle energy of 1,000 foot pounds may be used.

For all deer of any species - the bullet must weigh at least 100 grains AND have a minimum muzzle velocity of 2,450 feet per second and a minimum muzzle energy of 1,750 foot pounds. It must be stressed that all these figures are the minimum legal requirement.

(For more on Rifle Calibres suitable for deer stalking in the UK follow this link: rifle-calibres)

For all deer stalking the bullet must be of a type designed to expand/deform on impact. For example soft nose or ballistic tip.

(For more on Expanding Ammunition follow this link: expanding-ammunition)

For more information and advice about the legislation affecting Deer Stalkers in the UK please CONTACT US.

Deer Stalking UK

Deer Stalking is the term used in the UK to refer to Deer Hunting or the stealthy pursuit of deer. Though historically undertaken with the use of dogs modern deer stalking in the UK is typically undertaken with the use of a high powered rifle fitted with a telescopic sight.

The UK offers some of the very best Deer Stalking/Hunting in the world. With six species of deer ranging from the native Red and Roe Deer to those species that have been gradually introduced to the UK, including Fallow Deer, Sika Deer, Muntjac Deer and Chinese Water Deer.

freakhead555

(Above: Roe Buck one of the UK's six species of deer)

Due to the fact that the deers traditional predators such as the Wolf and Lynx no longer roam the British countryside Deer numbers in some areas of the UK have reached near epidemic proportions. The only means of controling these numbers has been controled deer culling.

As a consequence of the need to cull Deer in the UK there are many opportunities to go Deer Stalking. The result is that many hunters from around the world come to UK shores each year to Stalk Deer.

Indeed due to the specific seasons there is in fact at least one deer species or another in season 365 days a year! This allows for hunters from the UK and abroad to experience some truly superb deer stalking over a variety of landscapes.

To find out more about Deer Stalking Legislation in the UK then please click on the following link: http://www.countydeerstalking.co.uk/deer-stalking-uk-legislation.html

Alternatively to book an outings Deer Stalking then please contact us directly.