It might sound silly to suggest a form of “the pill’’ for animals, or some other means of contraception to keep ou burgeoning deer population down. Not all that fanciful, however.

It’s probably safe to say that Irish red deer have never been photographed as much during their mating or, more commonly known, rutting season.

A man who has admitted shooting a protected red deer stag in Co Kerry and cutting it in half has had his sentencing adjourned for two weeks.