UK to ease deer culling rules as population hits 1,000-year high

England makes deer culling easier

The UK government has launched a new 10-year strategy to control Britain's booming deer population, which is now at its highest level in a millennium. The plan will simplify licensing for night-time and closed-season shooting and could grant farmers new legal rights to shoot deer to protect their crops.

Official estimates suggest there are now more than two million deer in Britain, a dramatic rise from about 450,000 in the 1970s. The government states current management has failed, with deer damaging woodlands and causing costly agricultural losses.

Damage to woodlands and farms

Excessive grazing and trampling by deer has left 33% of English woodlands in an "unfavourable condition," up from 24% in the early 2000s. For farmers, the financial impact is severe.

Andrew Blenkiron, who manages the Elveden estate in Suffolk, says deer numbers "rocketed" during Covid lockdowns. He estimates local herds cause up to £100,000 in annual crop damage and losses.

"Carrots are a real focus for them. They even dig potatoes up," Blenkiron told the BBC, noting that meat from culled deer on his estate is sold locally and supplied to a school.

The case for and against culling

Supporters of the strategy argue that decisive action is necessary. Martin Edwards of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation said the plan creates "real opportunities" for professional and volunteer managers to tackle the expanding population.

However, animal welfare campaigners oppose the increased culling. A spokeswoman for PETA argued that culling is inhumane and ineffective for long-term population control.

"Removing deer from the landscape doesn't stop their numbers from rebounding," she said, explaining that a temporary reduction can increase breeding rates among survivors. PETA advocates for alternative methods like:

• Habitat modification
• Appropriate fencing
• Limiting access to artificial food sources

A broader problem and a proposed market

The deer population explosion poses risks beyond agriculture and forestry. More than 74,000 deer are involved in vehicle collisions each year, resulting in 10-20 human deaths and over 700 injuries, according to the RSPCA.

The government's strategy also aims to boost a domestic market for venison. It wants to promote the meat from culled deer for use in public institutions like schools, prisons, and hospitals.

The Country Food Trust, a charity that provides venison meals to food banks and shelters, supports this move. Its chief executive, SJ Hunt, called venison a lower-cholesterol protein source but requested more funding to help charities process culled deer carcasses.

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said the government is committed to helping landowners so "woodlands can flourish and crops can be better protected." The plan will now identify national priority areas for focused culling efforts.