To encourage a wide range of entries into Deer Photographer of the Year, there are a range of categories into which you can submit your deer photographs.

After the deadline for submissions has passed, judging will begin. Every image will be given a score by each of the members of the judging panel; entrants with photographs making it through to the next round will be asked to submit high resolution images as well as the original, unaltered image files.

After that, the shortlisted photographs will be judged again to determine the images that will be awarded Highly Commended, Judges' Choice, the winner of each category and the overall winner of Deer Photographer of the Year.

All judging is anonymous via a panel of judges. For impartiality, all judges act autonomously and the majority of the judging panel are independent of the organisers. 

**Last updated July 2024 (description taken from the program’s website)