GovWire

This guidance:

• provides direction to licensed operators to carry out controlled shooting of free-ranging badgers in the field
• gives recommendations on best practice
• highlights areas of the technique that licensed operators must comply with, including licence conditions

This guidance does not confer any authority to undertake the actions described. These actions may only be undertaken where:

• Natural England has issued a specific licence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 authorising the killing of badgers
• in accordance with class licence WML-CL05

Those acting under licence must:

• comply with all conditions
• take all reasonable steps to carry out licensed operations safely and humanely