Labour to allow landowners to shoot deer at night as numbers surge

Patrick Galbraith

Fri 20 February 2026 at 3:02 am GMT+9 3 min read

It is estimated that there are more than two million deer across Britain - Jeff Gilbert

Labour will allow landowners and hunters to shoot deer at night in an attempt to curb soaring herd numbers.

The Government has made the change as part of a new strategy to protect Britain’s woodland, which has come under threat from the highest deer population in 1,000 years.

It is estimated that Britain is home to more than two million deer, which often destroy woodland and hedges that house rare birds such as the nightingale.

As well as allowing more shooting of deer after dark, officials are exploring feeding people venison in hospitals, schools, and prisons as a way to create more demand for deer carcasses.

Shooting more deer after dark will help reduce numbers. This is because they often come out of the woods at night and feed in open fields, allowing hunters to target them with night-vision equipment.

The Government will also consult on allowing male deer to be shot all year round rather than having a close season.

This change was made in 2023 in Scotland, where red deer stags can now be shot for the entire year.

Mary Creagh, the nature minister, said: “Deer can cause significant damage to trees, woodland, agricultural crops and native wildlife.

“We’re making it quicker and simpler for farmers, foresters and landowners to get the licences they need to protect their land while ensuring deer management remains safe and humane.”

As well as ruining woodland, deer are also responsible for stripping bark on trees in forestry plantations – which can significantly reduce the value of timber.

Deer are also blamed for eating farmers’ crops, with some large landowners reporting losses of £1m a year.

Emma Reynolds, the Environment Secretary, told The Telegraph: “The reforms will be backed by dedicated deer officers and grant funding to support land managers in implementing control measures.

“The Government will also invest in research into drone‑based surveying technology to identify priority areas, with high deer populations, requiring action at landscape scale.”

Drones equipped with cameras and a thermal imaging kit can be used to count deer over large and inaccessible areas.

Emma Reybolds, the Environment Secretary, has said the Government will invest in research into drone‑based surveying technology to identify priority areas - Leon Neal/Getty Images Europe

Deer numbers have soared in recent decades owing to an absence of apex predators, compounded by a milder climate and more crops being grown by farmers to provide deer with food.

Chris Packham, the wildlife presenter who is also a long-time vegan, said: “To ensure we establish the richest mosaic of habitats in Britain, we unfortunately have to make some hard choices and managing a burgeoning population of deer is one of them.

“And let’s be clear, this is not sports shooting or hunting. This is about culling, management.”

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However, there is some concern among the deer-stalking community that these measures could reduce deer to the status of vermin.

Charles Smith-Jones, technical adviser at the British Deer Society, said: “Deer are an integral and iconic part of the English environment.

“The British Deer Society hopes that any proposed future measures relating to their control will be discriminate and appropriate, ensuring that deer welfare remains a foremost priority while paying proper regard to public safety.”

Mr Smith-Jones also expressed concern over whether the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had engaged with deer managers and stalkers in drawing up their strategy.

He said: “Clearly, for the England Deer Strategy to move forward, it will require collaboration amongst all key stakeholders and clear communication.

“The release of this strategy with no warning is not setting the tone for successful collaboration.

“We would urge Defra to now start to engage closely and consistently with all groups involved in this strategy’s implementation.”

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