Bluetongue: what deer stalkers need to know

Can I shoot deer in a bluetongue Restricted Zone?

There is no general prohibition on deer stalking or the culling of wild deer within a bluetongue Restricted Zone.

In England, the whole country is currently within the Restricted Zone and animals, including deer, can be moved within England without a specific bluetongue licence or pre-movement test, provided the relevant conditions of the general licence are met.

Normal firearms, deer management, animal welfare and food hygiene requirements continue to apply.

What should I look for when inspecting a deer?

There is limited information about the clinical effects of bluetongue specifically in wild deer. Consequently, stalkers should not assume that a deer showing unusual clinical signs has bluetongue.

Nevertheless, possible signs of bluetongue in susceptible animals include:

• fever
• lethargy or depression
• weakness
• swelling of the head, lips, tongue or face
• discharge from the eyes or nose
• drooling
• ulcers or erosions in the mouth or tongue
• lameness
• reluctance to move
• difficulty feeding
• reddening or swelling around the coronary bands

Signs can vary between animals and species.

What should I do if I suspect bluetongue in a deer?

Bluetongue is a notifiable animal disease.

If you suspect bluetongue, you should report it to the relevant animal health authority.

In England, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) through the Defra Rural Services Helpline.

Do not move a live animal showing signs of disease unless specifically authorised.

Can bluetongue affect people?

Bluetongue is not a zoonotic disease and does not infect people.

The virus is principally transmitted between susceptible animals by infected biting midges. It can also be transmitted through infected germinal products such as semen, ova and embryos.

There is therefore no evidence that handling or eating venison presents a bluetongue infection risk to people.

Can I take a deer carcass out of a Restricted Zone?

The bluetongue movement controls are primarily concerned with live susceptible animals and germinal products.

The restrictions that apply to moving live deer should not be confused with the movement of a carcass following the lawful shooting of a wild deer.

However, other animal health, food hygiene and carcass-handling requirements may apply, particularly where venison is being supplied commercially.

Where there is any doubt about the movement of a carcass or animal product, stalkers should seek advice from the relevant authority before moving it.

Does bluetongue affect other forms of shooting?

Bluetongue only affects susceptible ruminants and camelids.

It does not infect birds or small game species.

Consequently, bluetongue restrictions do not prevent normal shooting activities involving species that are not susceptible to the disease.

However, access to particular premises or the movement of livestock and other susceptible animals may be subject to separate disease-control requirements.

Should deer managers take additional biosecurity precautions?

Bluetongue is primarily spread by biting midges rather than through contaminated equipment, clothing or vehicles.

Nevertheless, good general biosecurity remains important when working between farms, livestock holdings and deer management operations.

Stalkers should:

• avoid moving visibly sick animals;
• follow any restrictions applying to the premises they are visiting;
• comply with movement licences and their conditions;
• check the current bluetongue status before moving live deer;
• report suspicious clinical signs;
• follow normal good practice when handling carcasses and equipment.

What should deer stalkers do now?

For most deer stalkers, there is no reason to stop or change normal deer management because of bluetongue.

However, BASC recommends that stalkers:

1. Continue to manage deer normally – There is currently no general restriction preventing deer stalking or culling because of bluetongue.
2. Remain vigilant – Look for unexplained signs of illness when observing deer and when inspecting carcasses.
3. Report suspected disease – If a deer displays signs that could indicate bluetongue, seek advice and report suspicion through the appropriate animal health authority.
4. Check the rules when travelling between England, Wales and Scotland – The disease situation and movement requirements differ between administrations and can change rapidly.