Deer (Scotland) Act 1996
Part I Scottish Natural Heritage's deer functions
1 The Deer Commission for Scotland.
2 Advice and annual reports to Secretary of State.
3 Power of SNH to facilitate exercise of functions.
4 Appointment of panels.
Part II Conservation, control and sustainable management of deer
Close seasons
5 Close seasons.
Code of practice on deer management
5ACode of practice on deer management
5BReview of compliance with code of practice on deer management
Deer management plans, control agreements and control schemes
6 Control areas.
6ADeer management plans
7 Control agreements.
8 Control schemes.
9 Recovery of expenses incurred in fulfilment of control scheme.
Emergency measures
10 Emergency measures to prevent damage by deer.
11 Application of section 10 in relation to the natural heritage.
Control agreements, control schemes and emergency measures: supplementary provisions
12 Power of Commission to provide services and equipment and to make certain payments.
13 Offences in relation to Part II.
14 Limitation of criminal liability.
15 Power to enter on land.
16 Service of notices.
Part III Offences in relation to deer
Unlawful killing, taking and injuring of deer
17 Unlawful killing, taking and injuring of deer.
Register of persons competent to shoot deer
17ARegister of persons competent to shoot deer
17BReview of competence etc. by SNH
Other offences and attempts to commit offences
18 Taking or killing at night.
19 Use of vehicles to drive deer.
20 Other offences connected with moving vehicles.
21 Firearms and ammunition.
22 Offences committed by more than one person.
23 Illegal possession of deer.
24 Attempts to commit offences.
Exemption for certain acts
25 Action intended to prevent suffering.
26 Right of occupier in respect of deer causing serious damage to crops etc. on certain ground.
Part IV Enforcement, licensing of venison dealing and miscellaneous provisions
Enforcement
27 Powers of search and seizure.
28 Power of arrest.
29 Offences by bodies corporate.
29AOffences by Scottish partnerships etc.
30 Power of court on trial for one offence to convict of another.
31 Powers of court on conviction for offences.
32 Disposal of deer liable to forfeiture.
Licensing of dealing in venison
33 Licences to deal in venison.
34 Records kept by venison dealers.
35 Reciprocal arrangements.
36 Offences in connection with venison dealing.
Further powers of SNH
37 Restrictions on granting of certain authorisations.
38 Limitation on requirement to obtain game licence.
39 Deer killed under the authority of SNH.
40 Power of Commission to require return of number of deer killed.
40APower of SNH to require return of number of deer planned to be killed
Miscellaneous and general provisions
41 Savings for certain rights.
42 Information to be supplied to owner of certain land.
43 Application of Act to farmed deer.
44 Application of Act to the Crown.
45 Interpretation.
46 Financial provisions
47 Orders, regulations etc.
48 Short title, consequential amendments, repeals, extent and commencement.
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1 Deer Commission for Scotland: supplementary provisions
1The Commission shall be a body corporate and shall have...
2(1) Every member of the Commission shall hold and vacate...
3If the Secretary of State is satisfied that the chairman...
4Where a person ceases to be a member of the...
5The Secretary of State may make such provision, if any,...
6The Secretary of State— (a) shall pay to—
7The Commission may pay to the members of any panel...
Meetings and proceedings of SNH
8The quorum of the Commission shall be five or such...
9The proceedings of the Commission shall not be invalidated by—...
10If at any meeting of the Commission the votes are...
11Subject to paragraphs 8 to 10 above, the Commission shall...
Office and staff of SNH
12
13The Secretary of State may provide the services of such...
SCHEDULE 2 Provisions as to control schemes
Part I Procedure for making control schemes
1Where SNH decides to make a control scheme it shall—...
2If no objection is duly made under paragraph 1 above...
3If any objection duly made under paragraph 1 above is...
4A control scheme shall not be confirmed with any modification...
Part II Procedure for varying or revoking control schemes
5On the application of SNH, the Secretary of State may...
6Before making any such variation or revocation the Secretary of...
7If no objection is duly made under paragraph 6 above...
8If any objection duly made under paragraph 6 above is...
9A variation of a control scheme shall not be made...
Part III General procedural provisions
10Notwithstanding anything in paragraphs 3 or 8 above, the Secretary...
11The provisions of subsection (2) to (8) of section 210...
Part IV Provisions as to the validity of control schemes and of variations and revocations of such schemes
12On confirming a control scheme or on varying or revoking...
13(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) below, a control...
SCHEDULE 3 Penalties
SCHEDULE 4 Consequential amendments
The Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948 (c.45)
1(1) The Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948 shall be amended as...
The Deer Act 1991 (c.54)
2In section 11(3) of the Deer Act 1991 (details to...
SCHEDULE 5 Repeals
SCHEDULE 6 Transitional, transitory and saving provisions
Transitional provision
1Where on the commencement of this Act a code has...
Transitory provisions
2Until an order in relation to red deer stags and...
3Until a code is published under section 37(5)(b) of this...
Savings
4The amendments made by paragraphs 2 to 4 of Schedule...
TABLE OF DERIVATIONS
1Notes:
2The following abbreviations are used in the Table:—
Acts of Parliament

Deer (Scotland) Act 1996

1996 c. 58

An Act to consolidate the legislation relating to deer in Scotland.

I1Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C1

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I1

Act not in force at Royal Assent; Act wholly in force at 18.10.1996 see s. 48(6).

Modifications etc. (not altering text)