The Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023

Made19th June 2023

Laid before the Scottish Parliament21st June 2023

Coming into force21st October 2023

The Scottish Ministers make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 5(1) of the Deer (Scotland) Act 19961, and any other powers enabling them to do so.

Citation and commencement1.

This Order may be cited as the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 and comes into force on 21 October 2023.

The Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 20112.

(1)

The Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 20112 is amended as follows.

(2)

For the table in the schedule (close seasons), substitute—

“Species
Sex
Period
Fallow deer (Dama dama)
Female
16 February to 20 October
Red deer (Cervus elaphus)
Female
16 February to 20 October
Red/sika deer hybrid
Female
16 February to 20 October
Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
Female
1 April to 20 October
Sika deer (Cervus nippon)
Female
16 February to 20 October”

“Species	Sex	Period
Fallow deer (Dama dama)	Female	16 February to 20 October
Red deer (Cervus elaphus)	Female	16 February to 20 October
Red/sika deer hybrid	Female	16 February to 20 October
Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)	Female	1 April to 20 October
Sika deer (Cervus nippon)	Female	16 February to 20 October”

LORNA SLATER

Authorised to sign on behalf of the Scottish Ministers

St Andrew’s House,

Edinburgh

19th June 2023

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Order 2011 by substituting a new table in the schedule which specifies the close seasons for deer.

The effect of this Order is to remove close seasons for male deer. The female close season remains unaltered. It therefore remains an offence under section 5 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 to take, wilfully kill or injure a female deer of the species specified in the table in the schedule during the corresponding close season.