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The BDS recognises that there are circumstances where a handgun would be a useful and discreet tool for ending the suffering of a wounded or sick animal. Unfortunately, existing legislation does not in our opinion allow the authorities to authorise the possession and use of suitable handguns in a practical fashion.

In our November 2006 response to the Defra consultation on the review of the Deer Act 1991, we have supported the proposal which will allow any reasonable means of humanely despatching deer that are suffering due to injuries or disease. We take that to include the use of a handgun where appropriate, subject to its lawful possession and conditioning for use in humane slaughter. This is the current position in Scotland which has proven to be a practical, workable measure.

BDS does not support those who might wish to shoot deer with specialist handguns which are more difficult to use accurately than rifles and which may not have a sufficient ballistic capability to ensure a humane kill.

It is the responsibility of the Chief of Police to decide whether an applicant has a sufficiently good reason to have a handgun to kill deer. The British Deer Society (BDS) firmly believes that the firearm of choice for shooting wild deer under nearly all circumstances should be a full-bore rifle (with ballistics as prescribed by law) ideally equipped with a telescopic sight to aid precise aiming. The law also allows a shotgun to dispatch injured deer and to shoot uninjured deer under certain closely specified circumstances when large shot as prescribed in the law must be used. If a deer is inadvertently wounded, the hunter should dispatch it as soon as possible with another shot from the rifle or shotgun already being carried. BDS does not believe that the carriage of a handgun is necessarily required for this purpose.

Although it is legal to kill farmed deer accustomed to being handled in the field with a rifle, such deer are often moved into a shed or abattoir to be killed. Under such closely controlled circumstances, BDS has no objection to a handgun (if legally held) being used as a slaughtering instrument. However if the deer are not closely restrained, BDS believes the use of a legally sanctioned rifle is essential.

Many deer are injured (other than by hunting) and require to be dispatched quickly and humanely - road traffic accidents are a common example. In such cases, BDS believes that any available firearm which can be used safely at close range is appropriate to end the deer's suffering. The law allows the use of any shotgun and any size of shot under such circumstances. Veterinary surgeons and others may have access to "humane killers" which may be free-bullet pistols or captive-bolt devices. BDS supports the use of either for the humane dispatch of injured deer which can be closely approached using the same charges and calibres as are approved for the slaughter of cattle. The same slaughtering method should be used as for domestic livestock i.e. a shot to the brain followed by immediate bleeding out - such firearms are never suitable for body shots.

BDS Board Revised 26.11.06