The British Deer Society

The British Deer Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1069663).

The British Deer Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Its objects include promoting research into the habits and scientific study of deer, and promoting knowledge of deer management, humane treatment and humane control. It commissions, funds and supports research projects, and offers small grants for research and education related to deer management.

Priority Areas

The British Deer Society funds and supports pure and applied research to improve scientific understanding of deer, their biology, their interactions with the environment and the issues they create for people. Its research has traditionally been in the natural sciences, mainly biology, and it also supports work across social sciences and humanities. Third-party proposals are encouraged to align with its objectives and fundamental themes, which include deer impacts on the environment and human interests, human effects on deer welfare and disturbance, disease, urban deer, control methods, culling welfare, climate change, wildlife crime and community carrying capacity. Funding categories serve amateur volunteers, professional researchers and students undertaking research. The Society assesses scientific quality, novelty and fit with its objectives, and monitors projects through reports and dissemination of findings.

Themes

• Deer impacts
• Human impacts on deer
• Deer and disease
• Urban deer
• Controlling deer impacts
• Culling and welfare
• Climate change

Geographic Focus

Priority: UK.

Applicants use the Society’s research funding application form.

Deadlines: Applications for research grants are due by 1 November and 1 May each year.

Application windows:

• Applications must be received by 01 May and 01 November each year

What to send:

• The Society’s application form

Applying again: If a proposal is rejected after the initial appraisal, the applicant may appeal once within one month, submitting a revised proposal and a letter describing how review comments were addressed and/or explaining why any comments are believed incorrect, and stating why the application should be supported.

What the charity says:

• Applications should clearly state the research question or hypothesis, explain how the methods and approach will address it, and show that results can be disseminated to academic, policy and practitioner audiences.
• Proposals are appraised against Society priorities and objectives, scientific quality and novelty.
• Third-party proposals should normally meet both the Society’s objectives and fundamental themes, although other projects within its remit or interests may still be considered.
• Grant holders submit interim reports, with progress assessed against the proposal’s aims, objectives and milestones.