Darting and Remote Chemical Injection

Unfortunately, deer can be wild and unpredictable and systems for the safe handling of deer are not always available. Under these circumstances, where intervention is necessary, administration of medicines or anesthesia by remote chemical injection (darting) may be necessary. Our vets have extensive experience in many different species of deer with darting medicines and safe darting practices. 

An intramuscular injection (including darting) of a wild or park deer must be performed by a veterinary surgeon under the Veterinary Surgeon's Act 1966. Unfortunately, vets who are able to dart are few, but our veterinary team is very experienced in the live animal capture and immobilisation of deer, both in emergencies and for routine procedures.  

Under the Deer Act 1991, the darting of deer under UK law is only permitted by under license from Natural England and Natural Resources Wales. We have the license required under to perform the darting of park and wild deer for the purposes of translocation or under emergency situations.