geoffw
Well-Known Member
Hi Erik, no, it's not illegal to feed deer in the UK, but it is illegal to stupify/drug /poison them incl w/bait, this sometimes causes confusion with the term "feeding". You may shoot them over feed ... as you note if that's what you choose to do/ & some folks with cull plans / limited shooting lines have no choice.
Nothing wrong with feeding them (When the weather is very bad, and there is little food, so say Jan-March) IF it is done to attract them to an area where it is safe to shoot, if you have backstop /safety issues on your land and/or have pressure from a landowner to reduce the deer population. But I believe 'baiting' deer to shoot is illegal. Shooting them on their way to an area where you feed is not. So it is all all very ambiguous.
Apples, carrots and sugar-beet can be successful. Or products made out of those feeds, such as Speedy-Beet.
Is it sporty? Maybe not, but neither is using a rifle...