Night licence scotland

[highlander243]

Good evening. I have read through a lot of threads on here already but not quite found what I was after.

Deer numbers have ballooned in recent years and are now causing a lot of damage to crops and grazing.

I have shot a good few during daylight hours over the years, but really need to get at them at night. A mate has being doing this but is limited for time.

As a landowner just wondering what I need to do to get a night licence. The application form mentions level 2 or 2 referees, one of which must have level one.

Does this mean I'd not need to do level 1 or 2 if I have 2 referees?

To be clear this is only to shoot on my own land at night.

My friend who has done night shooting here who I help as spotter has offered to referee, he currently has level one.

Before I phone snh I wanted to ask here for advice first. Many thanks for reading.

 

[Stevie/P]

I would have thought if it’s your own land you call the shots. pardon the pun
Plenty of stalkers would be willing to help

 

[pendle]

When I applied with a level one . I had to have two level 2 stalkers as my referees.

 

[User00040]

Good evening. I have read through a lot of threads on here already but not quite found what I was after.

Deer numbers have ballooned in recent years and are now causing a lot of damage to crops and grazing.

I have shot a good few during daylight hours over the years, but really need to get at them at night. A mate has being doing this but is limited for time.

As a landowner just wondering what I need to do to get a night licence. The application form mentions level 2 or 2 referees, one of which must have level one.

Does this mean I'd not need to do level 1 or 2 if I have 2 referees?

To be clear this is only to shoot on my own land at night.

My friend who has done night shooting here who I help as spotter has offered to referee, he currently has level one.

Before I phone snh I wanted to ask here for advice first. Many thanks for reading.

Is it enclosed land (fenced), arable field, forestry or... ?

I would have thought if it’s your own land you call the shots. pardon the pun

Yes, but only if certain criteria are fulfilled.

Open hill can't be legally lamped for deer without a NatureScot authorisation.

But with the coming changes, I'd skip the lamp entirely...

 

[Zstalker]

To get a night licence you first need to get onto the fit and comp register. In order to do this, you need either DSC1 plus 2 references or DSC 2 and the appropriate forms.

Once you are registered fit and competent, then you can apply for a night licence. This is a separate form.

Both of the above are via NatureScot.

 

[highlander243]

Is it enclosed land (fenced), arable field, forestry or... ?



Yes, but only if certain criteria are fulfilled.

Open hill can't be legally lamped for deer without a NatureScot authorisation.

But with the coming changes, I'd skip the lamp entirely...

Yes it's fenced fields I want to shoot on

 

[Stevie/P]

Open hill can't be legally lamped for deer without a NatureScot authorisation.

If the OP friend is level 2 could he not apply for fit and competent status and the name the OP as a controller.

 

[highlander243]

If the OP friend is level 2 could he not apply for fit and competent status and the name the OP as a controller.

My friend is level 1

 

[Zstalker]

If the OP friend is level 2 could he not apply for fit and competent status and the name the OP as a controller.

You both need to be on fit and comp for the night licence.

 

[Zstalker]

My friend is level 1


If you have DSC1 then you will need your friend as well as a second reference.

 

[Tuck]

Is this just in Scotland? Or do you need level 1&2 in England for a night license?

 

[Zstalker]

Is this just in Scotland? Or do you need level 1&2 in England gow a night license?

Not sure about England.

 

[Stevie/P]

Is this just in Scotland? Or do you need level 1&2 in England for a night license?

DEFRA is your contact regarding England and night shooting deer

 

[User00040]

To get a night licence you first need to get onto the fit and comp register. In order to do this, you need either DSC1 plus 2 references or DSC 2 and the appropriate forms.

Once you are registered fit and competent, then you can apply for a night licence. This is a separate form.

Both of the above are via NatureScot.

If the OP friend is level 2 could he not apply for fit and competent status and the name the OP as a controller.

You both need to be on fit and comp for the night licence.

If the OP @highlander243 is the legal landowner, and if these deer are in fenced agricultural fields, and if they are considered to be 'marauding' no Naturescot night license , DSC 1 or 2, or Fit & Competent status is required.

This is the most important point, as the defense of your crops and/or grazing supersedes any licensing requirement, if they happen to be 'marauding' at night, then you can shoot them at night.

Be thankful of the powers granted via the almighty crofting commission!

 

[Zstalker]

If the OP @highlander243 is the legal landowner, and if these deer are in fenced agricultural fields, and if they are considered to be 'marauding' no Naturescot night license , DSC 1 or 2, or Fit & Competent status is required.

This is the most important point, as the defense of your crops and/or grazing supersedes any licensing requirement, if they happen to be 'marauding' at night, then you can shoot them at night.

Be thankful of the powers granted via the almighty crofting commission!

Yes, that is true. So if the above all applies then you are OK, otherwise go down the licence route.

 

[highlander243]

If the OP @highlander243 is the legal landowner, and if these deer are in fenced agricultural fields, and if they are considered to be 'marauding' no Naturescot night license , DSC 1 or 2, or Fit & Competent status is required.

This is the most important point, as the defense of your crops and/or grazing supersedes any licensing requirement, if they happen to be 'marauding' at night, then you can shoot them at night.

Be thankful of the powers granted via the almighty crofting commission!

Really?

They are definitely marauding, also crossing a busy a road going from hill down into fields causing danger to traffic, we get numerous deer killed every year. Hit one myself a few years back

 

[User00040]

Really?

They are definitely marauding, also crossing a busy a road going from hill down into fields causing danger to traffic, we get numerous deer killed every year. Hit one myself a few years back

Personally would crack on, issue is going to be whether you decide to 'scare' them vs. cull and consume or sell on the venison.

By the time your 'license' comes back, they will have done damage, no?

If they are doing damage to crops or improved grazing for stock, you can act. But if it's a horse/pony paddock, not so much.

The latter was usually seen as a wee recompense for the damage caused, but with current regs around gamedealers etc, it's sometimes more trouble than it's worth.

If you have 10+ deer decked on the grass, you'll need them gone soon unless you have a chiller or 'have come to an understanding' with a gamedealer.

The latter is more difficult now as cold chain and trace-ability are big issues (and rightly so), that's before the 'copper bullets only' nonsense.

 

[highlander243]

Personally would crack on, issue is going to be whether you decide to 'scare' them vs. cull and consume or sell on the venison.

By the time your 'license' comes back, they will have done damage, no?

If they are doing damage to crops or improved grazing for stock, you can act. But if it's a horse/pony paddock, not so much.

The latter was usually seen as a wee recompense for the damage caused, but with current regs around gamedealers etc, it's sometimes more trouble than it's worth.

If you have 10+ deer decked on the grass, you'll need them gone soon unless you have a chiller or 'have come to an understanding' with a gamedealer.

The latter is more difficult now as cold chain and trace-ability are big issues (and rightly so), that's before the 'copper bullets only' nonsense.

I tend to be quite Conservative tbh, most I've shot in one go is 3 I like to make sure they go down and stay down.

They are definitely damaging improved grazing have a load coming in onto anew field of grass every night, I've shot a couple at sunset but they are straight back in so the don't seem to scare easy

 

[User00040]

They are definitely damaging improved grazing have a load coming in onto anew field of grass every night, I've shot a couple at sunset but they are straight back in so the don't seem to scare easy

The local old boy would be out there blazing away every night if that were the case, send the estate a bill for grazing and ammo costs

 

[highlander243]

The local old boy would be out there blazing away every night if that were the case, send the estate a bill for grazing and ammo costs

Don't suppose you have a link to any legislation stating marauding deer can be shot at night without licence?, I've googled but not found anything. Not that I doubt what your saying would just like to read any official documents. Many thanks