The British Deer Society

Welcome to

The British Deer Society
What do we do? - BDS promotes deer education, research and management best practice to ensure a healthy and sustainable deer population in balance with the environment; a key feature of the biodiversity of the UK landscape.
What do we do?
Welcome to

The British Deer Society
Our aim - BDS aims to be the go-to place for objective and unbiased information on the biology of deer and methods of deer management, humane treatment and control.
Our aim
Welcome to

The British Deer Society
Research - BDS provides funding and support for high quality deer research to inform government(s), academia, trade organisations, members, the media and the public.
Our research
Welcome to

The British Deer Society
Membership - BDS embraces a varied membership ranging from professional biologists, enthusiastic naturalists, keen photographers, wildlife artists and chefs to deer managers and stalkers. All are welcome.
Join us
Welcome to

The British Deer Society
Education - BDS aims to improve general education and understanding of all deer-related issues, through active engagement and access to high quality educational materials.
Our education
Welcome to

The British Deer Society
Training - We develop and deliver high quality training programmes to promote best practice in deer management.
Our training
Welcome to

The British Deer Society
How can you help us? - Help BDS continue its education and research programme. Secure the future of wild deer in the UK by becoming a member, making a donation, or purchasing from our shop. Thank you for your support.
Join | Donation | Shop

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Latest News

Deer Stalkers’ Evening, Suffolk

Deer Stalkers’ Evening, Suffolk, 30th October 2019.

At Great Whelnetham Community Centre, nr Bury St Edmunds, with doors open at 6 pm for 7.15 pm

Topics being covered are:

* Landscape deer management project, by Valentina Zini, from the University of East Anglia.

* Professor Rory Putman, BDS chairman, Over what sort of spatial scale does management effort need to be coordinated to deliver effective reductions in deer impacts?

* Wild game meat regulations - what you can legally do with your culled deer.

Free entry.

Deer bTB Survey in Northern Ireland

Currently there is a Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) epidemic in cattle in Northern Ireland.

The eradication programme for bTB costs and estimated £40 million per year, with an average of 1,000 cattle culled each month. But despite these large-scale eradication efforts, bTB remains a huge problem for the NI farming sector.

A research project is being carried out into bovine Tuberculosis in deer in NI. This project, being conducted by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), aims to gain a better understanding of the extent of bTB in red, sika and fallow deer.

No Deal Brexit Implications in Relation to Ireland and Licenced Firearms

In the event that the United Kingdom leaves the European Union without a ratified withdrawal agreement, there will be some implications in relation to Ireland and licenced firearms.

British and Northern Irish residents will no longer be able to use a European Firearms Pass.

British and Northern Irish visitors seeking to shoot in Ireland should continue to apply to An Garda Síochána for a Non-Resident Firearm Certificate. The application should be made to the Superintendent of the Garda district where the applicant first wishes to shoot.

Material on this topic is available on the website of the Department of Justice and Equality http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Brexit_-_Firearms_and_Explosives.

Isle of Wight Deer Survey

Have you seen some deer in the wild on the Isle of Wight or signs of deer such as tracks, deer hair or antlers?

If so it would help with their conservation if you could complete the Isle of Wight Deer Conservation deer survey.

Wild deer are part of the Isle of Wight’s rich natural heritage, historically they are important as the islands special woodlands evolved in their presence. Isle of Wight Deer Conservation wishes to extend their knowledge of deer in the wild on the island so that they can record this for the benefit of present-day and future generations of islanders.

Take the survey

Isle of Wight Deer Survey