Deer Control - out of season
- Thread starter evetseel
- Start date
Yes they stopped all stalking during the peak of covid lock down.
And yes they start does in September but that has been the case for a number of years and is nothing to do with covid. This is done under an SNH out of season licence.
Coddy
Well-Known Member
Not sure about FC, but with Fit and Competent certificate from SNH and Written approval from land owner, Does can be taken 1st September in cases of crop protection.
Female deer of any species during the period of any statutory close season, but not including the period 1st April to 31st August;
Female deer of any species during the period of any statutory close season, but not including the period 1st April to 31st August;
At the moment that is only a recommendation, but probably likely to be implemented.
There is however a general authorisation issue by SNH that allows out of season culling in certain circumstances
reiver
Well-Known Member
Ok just to say that I have shot deer in the past for crop protection .when they have gotten in to the barley fields and done quit a bit of damage to the crop.
I have shot them with a shotgun and with slugs and also used a .243 .
Not stalking just crop protection for my pals who Farm .
Not sure how anyone would know what I was doing as the deer were only a couple of hundred yards from the crow banger going off all day!! .
We just did the job and kept quite .
The Roe ended up in the freezer so nothing wasted.
we only had to shoot one to stop the problem generally for the season.
No drama and all above board.
I have shot them with a shotgun and with slugs and also used a .243 .
Not stalking just crop protection for my pals who Farm .
Not sure how anyone would know what I was doing as the deer were only a couple of hundred yards from the crow banger going off all day!! .
We just did the job and kept quite .
The Roe ended up in the freezer so nothing wasted.
we only had to shoot one to stop the problem generally for the season.
No drama and all above board.
Just as a matter of interest does anyone in England on here have any experience ( not anecdotal) of this becoming a legal issue. Any idea when the last time the ‘Farmers Defence’ was used in court?
I’m also interested. Sadly reading about quad thefts, hare coursing and recently a commercial scale salmon netting poaching operation that lasted years I don’t know that the police have the time/inclination to pursue this. I’m a novice but I’d always respect seasons out of decency and common sense. However, is out of season deer shooting is likely to cause anyone an actual practical problem?
CarlW
Well-Known Member
It causes the orphaned calves and kids an actual practical problem.
That problem being not learning how to survive at best and a slow death through starvation at worst
As Lee mentioned you'd want to have a decent stack of evidence photos and the like showing what you had done to try and persuade the deer to leave the crops alone, scarecrows etc and evidence of the significant damage caused, if it is just a small corner of a field I'd suggest that would be a tough argument to make. Unless there is material damage you are wondering around on some thin creaky ice, just get the correct license and save all the hassle and paranoia, just need one person who knows the rules to see you at it and you are scuppered without the proper documents. Always easier to do things the right way first, you may well get your guns back eventually but not having them for a while sat with the bobbies would be a tad tedious.
Cranhill
Well-Known Member
Nearly, I had give statement to a police inspector after shooting a CWD on a live airfield while waiting (4 months) for Nature England to issue a license. we advised NE of the dispatching of the CWD then NE reported the airport and myself to the police. The Inspector contacted NE the same day as I gave my statement and we received the license by email the following day.
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Yea obviously. As I wrote the reasons for not doing it are “decency and common sense”. But given current enforcement the legality seems borderline irrelevant.
CarlW
Well-Known Member
Following the law doesn't become more or less necessary depending upon the likelihood of discovery.
Using an OS license does not in itself leave orphans. The practitioner should make every effort to prevent this throughout the shooting season of females whether this is within the statutory season or within the periods when a OS license is being put to use. It's the ability, judgement and skill of the controller. If a controller shoots a family group of roe(2kids and the doe) using OS license conditions a week or two before the statutory season is that worse animal welfare than shooting during the first few weeks of the statutory season in a scenario where only the doe is shot
As a farmer I am a bit surprised with the attitude that we should just put up with damage, damage is damage regardless of whether it is ‘ just a corner’. That is the whole point of the ‘FarmersDefence’. Or go through the proper channel and wait 4 months for a license.
SSS
Yes, agreed I shoot foxes for a local farmer. He was getting problems one lambing time so we were having a chat about what was happening. I referred to 1 of the local do gooders complaining about foxes getting shot. He said "it would be a different story if someone was going into their bank account every night and taking a chunk of their money"
CarlW
Well-Known Member
On paper, I agree. However, as we discussed on the other thread, the denouement on the ground is often quite different. This is even more the case under the "farmer's defence" (as here) than it is under proper OSS because the control is often conducted by those not accustomed to out-of-season shooting. No disrespect meant but a Wiltshire foxer or stalker simply doesn't have the same experience as a highland contractor.
Dan Gliballs
Well-Known Member
nobody seems to bat an eyelid when they shoot a milky vixen in spring although the end result is the same
Dan Gliballs
Well-Known Member
ok ok ok, you know what I mean, don’t get all sensitive.
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