The Board of Conservators policy on deer is:

"The Board of Conservators is aware of the increasing deer population in the area and has played a significant role, with others, in establishing both a Deer Warden Scheme to deal with deer casualties on the roads of East Sussex and a Management Group to co-ordinate the efforts of land-owners in controlling the deer population. Although that part of the Forest managed by the Board does not harbour large numbers of deer, partly due to disturbance by people and dogs, it is traversed by them coming off quieter, private land, particularly at dusk. Like many adjacent land managers the Board do not shoot deer to control them. They recognise the value of shooting for conservation reasons, but maintain the current no shooting policy because of the threat it could pose to safety on the Forest, where the public have free access 24/7."