Hunters to be allowed to shoot deer at night as numbers hit 2m
RULES on shooting wild deer will be relaxed to control their surging numbers and protect trees.
The country’s deer population has increased from 450,000 in the 1970s to two million today – its highest level for 1,000 years.
In light of the soaring numbers, ministers are proposing to allow land managers to ‘cull male deer at any time during the year’. It will also allow shooting deer at night. Previously, male deer were protected during a ‘close season’ to allow their antlers to grow. Female deer will still be protected when they are caring for their young.
Ministers also said they were was concerned about the spread of muntjac deer, which eat ‘plants of conservation importance’. But the RSPCA said: ‘Deer “management” is largely a euphemism for culling.’