The Deer Initiative provides the framework for the private sector, voluntary sector and government to work together, so that wild deer management in England and Wales is properly co-ordinated and is effective, safe and humane.
We provide advice and support to a wide range of private, public sector and NGO landowners, land managers (including agriculture and forestry) and deer managers.
Facilitation and support to Landowners and managers:
- help with setting up deer management groups
- co-ordination of collaborative culls
- assistance with deer management plans
- advice on control options and land management planning to aid deer management (woodland design, glades, deer lawns, stalking and extraction routes etc)
- assistance with basic infrastructure, e.g. high seats, extraction equipment, mobile chillers
Disease monitoring and advice: with respect to bTB, Bluetongue, Chronic Wasting Disease, tick/midge borne diseases and emerging zoonotic diseases; including co-ordination and support of research projects.
Training and awareness events, including:
- promotion of industry Best Practice in all aspects of deer management
- impact assessments
- thermal imaging census
- Risks and Liabilities
- carcase handling
- disease recognition and reporting requirements
Surveys:
- deer impact assessments (by DI staff)
- thermal imaging census etc
