Increase in patrols to combat stag poaching

NIGHT patrols have been stepped up by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in the south-west in a bid to combat a rise in the poaching of red stags.

The discovery at the weekend of a beheaded red stag, which is a protected animal, is the fifth wild deer carcass to have been found in the wider Killarney area in recent weeks.

Most of the deer have been sika. However a sixth deer, a young red stag, had to be put down by wildlife rangers after he was found staggering around with a number of bullet holes.

The hunting of red stags is strictly prohibited in Kerry.

Licensed hunters in the region have called for greater controls and greater checks.

The Kerry Deer Society is calling for a proper deer census so the extent of poaching can be ascertained. It is also warning of a danger to the public by untrained marksmen.

The NPWS regional manager, Pat Dawson, said yesterday they are following “a certain line of inquiry ” in relation to the slaughter of the red stag and are awaiting forensic results.

Night patrols have now been stepped up in the wider Kerry/Cork region.

Noel Grimes, chairman of the Kerry Deer Society said those poaching were poor marksmen — the wounded stag which had to be put down had received bullets in his neck, shoulder and legs.

The society had received reports from licensed and experienced hunters that there was a dramatic fall in deer numbers outside the national park, Mr Grimes said.

“They tell us that the number of reds, especially, are way down in regions away from the national park,” Mr Grimes said.

He believes so-called trophy hunters — poachers who are seeking the antlers of stags — are at work in the area and he has asked the public to report any activity to the gardaí or to wildlife rangers.

Licensed hunter and councillor, John Joe Culloty, said people were travelling from outside the area to shoot deer, often using high powered rifles at night.