Shooting Deer Out of Season
- Thread starter Roebuck9
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Years ago, I shot a staggie by ‘mistake’ on my one and only guided day at the hinds. In my defence, I’d only just moved to Scotland, it was a misty day and I was excitable and trigger happy (well, those are my excuses and I’m sticking to them).Anyone in the UK been done for dropping deer out of season recently?
Hope the person who plugs a buck during doe season reports themselves to the local Wildlife Crime officer, instead of eating it...?
I asked the guide what would happen if it was found out or reported. He just laughed ‘what makes you think anyone cares’…
Shooting out of season has always happened, in spades. With or without an official OOS authorisation. I really can’t imagine the police being even slightly concerned unless there was some other more serious associated criminality.
Ah yes the neighbouring 'deer expert'. I had one of them in Northumberland. He and his lackeys did their best to disrupt me protecting a replanted block. In reality all the happened was they kept me supplied with deer that got shot on sight. Oh and they lost the bit of ground they were using for game shooting with the tenants connivance but without the landowners approval. It was handy for me for a while as well as the deer used to cross the boundary to the hoppers. You do have to watch yer back though...
I like to think that I covered all of that in my response to the chap though. I was very thorough and clear cut in all aspects. I did say it is a defence, however part of that defence is the landowner stating to you in writing that it is required and why. That is a number 1 must and a minimum. Yourself gathering the evidence is for you and if you are caught, photos of the damage and of the species doing on numerous occasions, other methods tried and failed, statements from the landowner or other farm workers. I also said that not much is gone into in the act, which it isn't in terms of what is required to justify and defend your actions and to put yourself in the shoes of the active officer (whether regular or wildlife) stopping you. Like I also mentioned, has any of this been put the test? Has anyone really heard anything about anyone losing certificates over using this defence correctly in England? I know I haven't. That adds to the difficulty and makes people scared to use an existing legal defence that is there for very real problems. Unfortunately, like much of British law, it can seem grey and vague and sometimes cross over existing laws that cover the same topic.
It will always be a contraversial topic. However like many issues raised, sometimes it doesn't have a place on a forum, as it is legal advice. We all have a say and opinions but it is all simply our own interpretations if law, we are not experts in law and not qualified in that dept, although some courses do help.
Like others, his best bet is talking to the legal dept of his shooting insurers, such as BASC. Firearms and deer dept to get all sides of requirements and possible consequences and most importantly, have all of that in writing and keep it for quotation. If they are serious about getting on board with the farmer for a serious damage issue. If it can however wait, it can't be a serious issue and none of the sect 7 applies anyway. Like I said before though, it exists for a niche purpose.
One day soon, it won't be required at all. With the England consultation having run last year on deer, similar the Scotish one. It may be likely that male deer no longer have seasons and night shooting is less restrictive in one form or another. Now whether that is with agreed or not, it will mean more access to any species at any time of year.. even though mature does are a main target for good population control, something I'm sure many will agree with.
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This is the problem he has a very big and desierable garden with fruit trees so the deer must think this a nice little oasis for a snack, lovely lawns to graze too.
Freeforester
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Not sure if ‘vicarious liability‘ is a ‘thing’ in England, but it sure is in Scotland. If you transgress at the inst ruction of the landowner, then in Scotland the latter can also be held liable.
Sol
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I would imagine the only real time folk would give too ***** if people were intentionally shooting does/hinds out of seasons and intentionally leaving fawns and calves running around fending for themselves.
Bucks and stags? no ones really ever gave two tits unless its happing at a massive scale there's hundreds of button bucks that get shot yearly being mistaken for a doe.
Whilst there's other factors like the anal tush and the legs too be fair not everyone Is going to either know that or able to make that judgement in the moment.
At least now in Scotland if that does happen the laws actually not been broken.
Dixie Dean
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When will last years consultation on deer seasons in England be released? I think the response time for comments ended September last year.
Sol
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Truthfully I have no clue its something my uncle keeps mentioning about the way there legs are held and general length of them? He's able to notice a buck much farther than I can that's for sure all I can notice is antlered or antlerless and *sometimes* the tush.
I've not heard that in relation to bucks/does but do use it relation to age, I.e more spindly/gangly is a good indicator of age, there is also leg length relative to depth of chest ( more so in the larger species)
DS Mad
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Qustion.. Have the scottish goverment put in law that land owners MUST shoot deer ( stags ) out of season and with thermal / night vision. If not then it would be in the intrest of the land owner to just carry on the way they have been managing deer on their estate for years and ignore this new ruling. At the end of the day you never shoot the gosse that lays the golden egg. Derr stalking on big estates is a large part of its income.
nun_hunter
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I'm sure the estates won't turn away multiple clients who would rather shoot a stag in warmer, drier weather with 18 hrs daylight and combine the trip with other more pleasant activities. I'm sure plenty will still only want to shoot a stag during the rut but also plenty of others who would much rather a spring or summer trip. Not to mention spreading out and increasing income throughout the year.
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