Control of stags eating hay fields

[Buchan]

I've done a bit of a trawl here and asked some reliable sources but I am wondering what options are open to a farmer whose hay crop is being reduced by stags. They don't have any firearms. We've tried scaring with shots and dogs, but they tend to just look back with a "feck off" expression.

I know section 7 exists and would seem to cover it, but as a friend commented it is a defence, not a licence, and that if a complaint were made, it might be a real hassle to resolve. Even though we have photos and video footage. It isn't covered by NE (I've asked) as this isn't section 8 where the licences apply.

So - what other options might be open to this farmer to deter the deer?

 

[Rake Aboot]

What’s stopping him shooting them ?

 

[Buchan]

What’s stopping him shooting them ?

Sorry, missing data - no gun! I think if they did, there would be no issue with using section 7. Me coming in, even though allowed as agent, might be more of a problem.

 

[Dave_45]

Sorry, missing data - no gun! I think if they did, there would be no issue with using section 7. Me coming in, even though allowed as agent, might be more of a problem.

I don’t think it is

Should be easily sorted via call to police though.

 

[Buchan]

I don’t think it is

Should be easily sorted via call to police though.

Monday's job!

 

[Rake Aboot]

I’m. Still slightly confused ( probably me being thick)
He owns the land ?
Why does he need a plan at all. ?

Still don’t understand what’s stopping him having the deer shot

 

[Tim.243]

I've done a bit of a trawl here and asked some reliable sources but I am wondering what options are open to a farmer whose hay crop is being reduced by stags. They don't have any firearms. We've tried scaring with shots and dogs, but they tend to just look back with a "feck off" expression.

I know section 7 exists and would seem to cover it, but as a friend commented it is a defence, not a licence, and that if a complaint were made, it might be a real hassle to resolve. Even though we have photos and video footage. It isn't covered by NE (I've asked) as this isn't section 8 where the licences apply.

So - what other options might be open to this farmer to deter the deer?

Sort out the chiller room first lol
Farmers Defence but use ssg then he will get frustrated and poke at them which will cause more of a problem.
The hard work is not what the farmer will want to do, which is be out there all the time on a quad with a gun pushing them off.
Shoot them as you say "stags" then you will have a lot of "in-house" meat freezer/chiller room.

 

[Buchan]

I’m. Still slightly confused ( probably me being thick)
He owns the land ?
Why does he need a plan at all. ?

Still don’t understand what’s stopping him having the deer shot

Because I don't want the hassle of a complaint against me. The area has a lot of walkers

 

[Rake Aboot]

You’re legally defended whether you have a plan in place or not.


Having an SNH plan in place won’t stop idiots complaining, to be frank I’d be more bothered about them plastering it over Facebook

If it’s that sort of place , get a night license in place and get them shot.

 

[Buchan]

That's what I thought, but night licence out of season only covers items in section 8. Natural England have already told me they don't issue licences for section 7.

 

[Heym SR20]

The OP is in England and will be shooting the Red Stags out of season.

To be honest shooting one or two will probably make bugger all difference. There is a crop off decent grass and the deer probably don’t have access to much feed elsewhere as it has been another dry spring, hence why they are on the fields.

 

[Buchan]

The OP is in England and will be shooting the Red Stags out of season.

To be honest shooting one or two will probably make bugger all difference. There is a crop off decent grass and the deer probably don’t have access to much feed elsewhere as it has been another dry spring, hence why they are on the fields.

That's probably the case, although there's lots of lovely trees to eat!

 

[Bowland blades]

Pitty we can no longer take the hounds through any more eh ?

 

[Tim.243]

Pitty we can no longer take the hounds through any more eh ?

Glad you can't...

 

[25 Sharps]

Monday's job!

You shoot the deer for him.

Call 101 to log that you are out shooting for deer control under section 7, if someone calls in they will refer to the day’s log and see you have registered your activity.

If already logged with the police you are less likely to have issues, not that I think you’d get issues anyway.

As above, have an extraction and lardering plans in place before doing anything, they are big, heavy buggers.

 

[Darkwoodecho]

Electric fence? The equestrian type used to portion off paddocks, set fairly high

 

[Tim.243]

Electric fence? The equestrian type used to portion off paddocks, set fairly high

They "hop" a 5 foot fence from standing, one gets caught in that wire it will rip the lot out and be running around with stakes and wire following

 

[VSS]

Electric fence? The equestrian type used to portion off paddocks, set fairly high

That equestrian fencing is a death trap for deer. A miserable, lingering death.

 

[palmer_mike]

Electric fence? The equestrian type used to portion off paddocks, set fairly high

Bad idea. Stags would be very likely to get tangled in it

 

[Tim.243]

Death trap for deer. A miserable, lingering death.

A shepherd was booted off as he left a short length of sheep electric sheep netting and a muntjac got caught in it and it died.