Guidance

Deer: how to protect your property from damage

Find out what you can do to stop deer causing damage to your property.

Applies to England

Stop deer damaging your property

To discourage deer coming to your property and causing damage you can use:

  • disturbance techniques, such as human interference
  • tree and shrub shelters
  • wire fences
  • hedges

Control by shooting

To shoot deer at night you need to either:

Natural England will only issue an individual licence if damage is significant and there’s no satisfactory alternative.

The Deer Initiative Partnership has more information on shooting deer and the close season.

Relocate trapped deer

If a deer has become trapped on your property you need a licence to capture and move it.

Further information

Natural England

Contact Natural England for queries on deer licences:

Wildlife licensing

Natural England
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH

Email wildlife@naturalengland.org.uk

Telephone 0300 060 3900

The Deer Initiative

Contact The Deer Initiative for queries on deer management:

The Deer Initiative
PO Box 2196
Wrexham
LL14 6YH

E-mail: admin@thedeerinitiative.co.uk

Telephone: 01691 770888

Updates to this page

Published 22 May 2015
Last updated 23 February 2026 + show all updates
  1. Added a link for the class licence to kill deer at night by shooting (CL55).

  2. First published.

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