Scotland’s new deer management laws take effect on 26 October

Scotland’s overhaul of deer management law begins on 26 October, when the core deer provisions of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 come into force. The commencement regulations, signed on 29 September and laid before Holyrood on 1 October, also switch on new mountain hare licensing provisions and wildfire fixed penalty powers for councils.

What changes for deer managers on 26 October?

The regulations bring into force the Act’s new statutory aims and purposes of deer management, NatureScot representation on deer panels, and a code of practice on deer management. Powers to require measures preventing damage by deer, and to act where deer put people at risk, commence on the same day.

Also commenced are the sections creating a national deer management and venison plan, including an initial duty to consider how venison from culls is handled and marketed. Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie has already signalled the direction of travel, calling venison “a healthy, low-carbon protein that deserves a bigger place on Scottish plates” when the Central Belt urban roe pilot was agreed last week.

A register of authorised persons and a competence test

For stalkers, the practical heart of the package is in the authorisation sections. From 26 October the Act commences provision for a register of authorised persons, a requirement to be fit and competent for certain authorisations, and authorisation for the use of vehicles to drive deer. The old obligation to carry out a periodic competence review is repealed, as is the saving of the right to take deer on land, and a review of the modifications made to the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 is built in.

Where does the shotgun offence stand?

Section 32(5) of the Act, which creates an offence of shooting deer with a shotgun, is commenced on 26 October only for the limited purpose of making regulations under section 45 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996. The offence itself is not yet in force: the commencement allows Scottish Ministers to begin drafting the regulations that will define how and when it applies, so shotgun users on deer should expect detailed rules to follow rather than an immediate ban.

What else commences on the same day?

The order also brings into force the Act’s wildlife licensing sections covering the protection of mountain hares and the licensing of land on which certain birds may be killed or taken, the power for local authorities to issue fixed penalty notices for wildfire offences, and a suite of national parks and forestry provisions, including the new offence of unauthorised felling. The Act’s muirburn licensing changes were commenced separately in June.

What happens next

The provisions take effect on 26 October 2026. NatureScot is expected to consult on the deer code of practice and the detail of the register and competence requirements, and regulations under section 45 of the 1996 Act will set out the shotgun rules. Deer managers should watch for NatureScot guidance over the winter and can read the commencement regulations in full at the link below.