Deer management in the South East has reached a crossroads. For decades, many estates and landowners approached the issue with a degree of isolation — treating deer populations, particularly fallow, as if they were entirely their own responsibility, or worse, their own possession. The emphasis often fell on trophies, selective harvesting of prime males, and maintaining herds for sporting or syndicate income.
But this model is no longer sustainable. In fact, the continued rise in fallow numbers, combined with escalating pressure on woodlands, crops, and biodiversity, demonstrates that a fragmented approach has failed to keep pace with reality.
At a recent Natural England conference of the Sussex Deer Group, it was clear that change is underway. Those estates currently included under the shared night licence had a common objective: to reduce deer densities to levels that woodland and agricultural landscapes can sustain. Targets were ambitious, aiming to reduce herd volumes from 20–25 deer per square kilometre to just 5–10. Yet, what became apparent during the discussions is that while ambitious, these targets are achievable — but only through meaningful collaboration between estates, agents, professional deer managers, and government bodies.
Here we explore why stakeholder engagement and collaboration are no longer optional, how government support via Countryside Stewardship CWS1 grants can underpin progress, and why shifting our focus away from trophies and towards population balance is critical for the future.
Moving Away from the Trophy Model
Historically, deer management on many large estates in Sussex and beyond was closely tied to sporting traditions. Selective culling was often biased towards producing or protecting large, impressive bucks for recreational stalkers or syndicate members. While this model may have served its purpose in a time of lower populations, today it actively contributes to the imbalance we see in herd dynamics.
Over-protection of males has, in many areas, created herds with skewed ratios — an overabundance of breeding females, leading to unsustainable birth rates. Trophy hunting has also encouraged a culture of estate-by-estate ownership of herds, with little recognition that deer are not static. They do not respect boundaries, nor are they confined by ownership lines. A buck protected on one estate may roam freely into neighbouring land where it is not controlled, and vice versa.
Dominic Strutt of the Leconfield Estate, speaking at the recent conference, highlighted the need to move away from such narrow focus. He emphasised the importance of selective buck culls, not simply to thin numbers, but to promote stronger species and healthier herds overall. By targeting weaker males and those with identifiable defects, and by reducing overall numbers of does, estates can ensure that the population that remains is robust, balanced, and sustainable.
The message was clear: the days of managing deer for trophies alone are over. The priority must now be herd reduction, female-focused culling, and restoring realistic male-to-female ratios.
Why Collaboration Matters
Deer management in Sussex cannot succeed in silos. Fallow, in particular, are a migratory species with large home ranges. A herd pressured in one block of woodland will move into another, often across estate boundaries. Without collaboration, one estate’s efforts can be quickly undone by inaction next door.
This is why stakeholder engagement — between estates, farmers, agents, deer managers, and government — is so vital. At the Sussex Deer Group conference, it was striking to see that all parties with access to the shared night licence had aligned around a single objective: lowering herd densities.
The recognition that deer are a shared responsibility is perhaps the most important cultural shift now taking place. By pooling resources, data, and access, estates can:
Increase overall cull efficiency, reducing duplication of effort.
Ensure consistency in herd management across wider landscapes.
Share the financial burden of employing professional deer managers.
Build collective data sets that give a more accurate picture of herd dynamics.
Demonstrate to government and the public that proactive management is taking place at scale.
Without this level of engagement, piecemeal culling will remain ineffective. With it, the ambitious reduction targets become genuinely attainable.
The Role of Government Support: CWS1 Grants
One of the most encouraging developments for estates is the availability of CWS1 Countryside Stewardship grants, currently offering £105 per hectare per year to support deer control where impacts have been identified in a Woodland Management Plan.
These grants can be transformative, particularly for large estates where the scale of required effort is significant. They provide a means to financially incentivise professional deer management, rather than relying solely on syndicates or recreational stalkers.
This is not to dismiss the role of recreational stalking, which still has value. But without the continuity, accountability, and professional focus of trained deer managers, recreational efforts alone cannot bring numbers under control. By using grant funding to employ professionals, estates can ensure that culling is targeted, data-driven, and integrated into broader estate objectives — whether biodiversity recovery, crop protection, or woodland regeneration.
When combined with PA7 Species Management Plans, CWS1 grants provide a structured pathway for estates to demonstrate not only intent but delivery. This, in turn, supports wider objectives, from climate resilience to biodiversity net gain.
The Practicalities of Herd Reduction
The numbers themselves speak volumes. Reducing herd densities from 20–25/km² to 5–10/km² is not a minor adjustment. It requires a step change in management intensity.
This means prioritising the cull of females, who drive herd growth. A 10:1 female-to-male ratio, often seen in unmanaged fallow populations, can rapidly spiral out of control. By actively culling does and balancing ratios, population growth can be slowed and eventually stabilised.
It also means taking advantage of every available management tool, from night licences to collaborative drives, and ensuring that cull data is accurately recorded and shared.
Here again, collaboration is essential. A single estate may not have the capacity to deliver such reductions alone, but across multiple estates, with aligned objectives and shared reporting, these targets become achievable.
Selective Buck Culling: Building Stronger Herds
While female-focused culling is the key to reducing numbers, the role of selective buck culling should not be overlooked. As Dominic Strutt highlighted, targeting bucks with weaker genetics or undesirable traits helps to promote stronger, healthier herds.
For professional deer managers, this requires an eye not only for numbers but for detail: antler development, body condition, and behaviour all provide clues as to which bucks should be removed. This level of selectivity ensures that as numbers come down, the quality of the herd that remains is enhanced.
The benefits extend beyond deer alone. Stronger, healthier herds exert less disproportionate browsing pressure, and they interact with their environment in more predictable ways. This makes planning and managing their impacts easier for estates.
Beyond Ecology: The Wider Impacts of Collaboration
While the ecological rationale for collaboration is clear, the benefits extend much further.
Economic Benefits
Deer cause significant financial losses through crop damage, loss of tree regeneration, and impact on biodiversity credits. Reducing herds to sustainable levels protects crops and woodlands, and enhances the value of estates pursuing natural capital markets.
Social Benefits
Public perception of deer management remains sensitive. Demonstrating that estates are working together, guided by government frameworks and professional standards, strengthens the case for deer control in the public eye. It shows that this is not about sport or trophies, but about responsibility and sustainability.
Professional Benefits
By employing professional deer managers, estates not only improve outcomes but raise industry standards. This helps to professionalise the sector, moving away from reliance on ad hoc syndicates and towards a recognised, respected profession.
Challenges and Realities
Of course, collaboration is not without its challenges. Estates vary in size, objectives, and resources. Not all landowners are equally willing to shift away from traditional models. There will be resistance from those who value trophies above balance, or who view deer as an income stream rather than a management challenge.
Yet the reality is that without collaboration, the problem will only worsen. Deer populations will continue to rise, biodiversity will continue to decline, and public pressure for intervention will grow. By acting now, estates can shape the narrative and demonstrate that they are taking proactive, responsible steps.
Building a Culture of Engagement
What emerged clearly from the Sussex Deer Group conference is that there is now momentum towards building a culture of collaboration. The shared night licence is a practical tool that binds estates together, creating shared responsibility and shared accountability.
But beyond licences and grants, what matters most is mindset. Estates must be willing to view deer not as private assets, but as shared responsibilities. Professional deer managers must be empowered to make difficult decisions, and agents must be proactive in supporting cross-boundary initiatives.
This culture of engagement will not be built overnight, but every meeting, every shared report, and every collaborative cull is a step in the right direction.
A New Era for Deer Management
The challenges facing Sussex and the wider South East are real and pressing. Fallow numbers are unsustainable, woodland regeneration is at risk, and agricultural losses are mounting. But the tools to address these challenges exist: collaboration, professionalisation, government support, and a shift in priorities away from trophies and towards sustainability.
By embracing stakeholder engagement, estates can not only meet ambitious herd reduction targets but also secure healthier, stronger herds and more resilient landscapes. This is not just a matter of ecology, but of responsibility — to the land, to biodiversity, and to future generations.
At Wildscape Deer Management, we stand ready to support estates in this journey. From impact assessments to full Deer Management Plans, from collaborative projects to professional culling, we believe that with the right approach, the ambitious can become achievable.
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