Guide on Firearms Licensing Law
101
for example where re-loaders are acquiring missiles or where the shooter is a
professional deer stalker.
12.31 Suitable calibres for shooting deer range from .22 centrefire to .45-70. For shooting
Muntjac & Chinese Water Deer in England and Wales, a rifle with a calibre of not
less than .220 inches and a muzzle energy of not less than 1,000 foot-pounds
using a soft or hollow nosed bullet of not less than 50 grains can be used. For
shooting Roe, Fallow, Sika and Red deer, a rifle with a calibre of not less than .240
and a muzzle energy of not less than 1700 foot-pounds can be used. However, for
the larger species (Fallow, Sika and Red deer), .270 and larger are generally more
suitable. See paragraph 12.34 for information about legislative requirements for the
shooting of deer in Scotland.
12.32 An applicant who wishes to shoot deer should name land which has the likelihood
of the appropriate deer species being present, and an invitation, booking or
authority to shoot. This is not necessary where a person already holds a deer legal
rifle for an established reason. Many deer stalkers will rely on invitations to shoot
on payment rather than be hired or paid to do so and may not be able to shoot
regularly or frequently, though others may be permanently employed, for example,
Forestry Commission staff. Hunting large animals with powerful rifles requires
particular skill, and applicants should generally have some experience of firearms.
12.33 The Deer Act 1991 also authorises the use of smooth-bore guns of at least 12 bore
loaded with a cartridge purporting to contain AAA shot (shot which is .203 inches
(5.16 millimetres) in diameter) or a cartridge containing a non-spherical projectile
weighing not less than 22.68 grammes (350 grains) to kill deer on any land if it can
be shown that the deer were causing serious damage to crops, vegetables, fruit,
growing timber or other property, that such damage was likely to continue and be
serious in nature and that action was needed to prevent this. This provision was
intended to allow authorised persons (namely, but not restricted to, farmers and
crofters) who own a shot gun but not a rifle to deal with marauding deer. Shot guns
for use with solid slug should be cylinder bored and fitted with sights, if available.
Solid slug is ammunition falling within section1 of the 1968 Act and so a firearm
certificate is needed for possession and use. A suitable rifle would be more
appropriate for a regular need to control deer.
Scotland
12.34 The legislative requirements for the shooting of deer in Scotland are based on the
performance of the ammunition, not the calibre of the rifle. Ammunition must be
“designed to deform in a predictable manner”. Article 3 of the Deer (Firearms etc.)
(Scotland) Order 1985 makes different provisions for the shooting of Roe deer in
Scotland. A calibre is not stipulated but the bullet weight must be not less than 50
grains, the muzzle velocity not less than 2,450 feet per second and the muzzle
energy not less than 1,000 foot-pounds. In practical terms, this means a calibre of
.222 or greater, rather than the .240 or greater for shooting Roe deer required in
England and Wales. For deer in Scotland other than Roe, bullets of not less than
100 grains, and a muzzle velocity of not less than 2,450 feet per second and a
muzzle energy of not less than 1,750 foot-pounds are all required. The 1985 Order
also allows the use of a shot gun in certain limited circumstances, but for land
management reasons only, and must be of not less than 12 bore gauge. Closed
seasons are also different in Scotland (see Chapter 13). Otherwise the general
comments on deer stalking above apply.