Wild deer in the UK are managed for sport and venison, and the welfare of individual deer during stalking, wounding and transport requires careful assessment and improvement.
Wounded deer that escape suffer from bullet or arrow wounds, dying slowly over hours to days. Poor shot placement is more common in inexperienced stalkers and in difficult terrain or low light. Deer caught and transported for live export or translocation experience significant capture stress. The absence of closed season protection for some species in England means pregnant and lactating females can be legally shot.