Deer being killed faster than they can breed amid ‘unprecedented’ poaching

Unprecedented poaching is threatening the deer population in many parts of the country, according to hunters.

Measures have been put in place by the main game-handling establishments and the Wild Deer Association of Ireland to counter the threat to the animals.

“In particular, it is believed red deer numbers have been decimated nationally by illegal poaching and over hunting,” said WDAI secretary Damien Hannigan. “It is hoped these initiatives will allow deer numbers to recover to sustainable levels.”

The WDAI believes hunters “may well be culling deer faster than they can reproduce, not allowing them sufficient time to recover from unprecedented levels of illegal poaching”.

As part of the agreement between the game handlers and the WDAI, culled deer will no longer be bought out of season and the existing premium payment for red deer is to be removed.

Paul Fletcher of Premier Game Ltd said “all the main game handling establishments who are concerned for our national deer herds have agreed not to purchase deer culled out of season”.

Information released to the WDAI by Heritage Minister Jimmy Deenihan showed the number of permits issued to cull deer outside of hunting season fell 16% in 2011. Under the Wildlife Act, such permits are granted to landowners if they can prove the deer are damaging farm land or forestry. The WDAI believe the reduction in requests is a result of a significant drop in deer numbers nationally.

Last year, Mr Deenihan was asked in the Dáil about permits issued that included a condition allowing deer to be culled at night using rifles and powerful lamps used to dazzle the animals.

The Wildlife Act states that such a practice should be lawful only for “educational or scientific purposes” and not for culling, as it is considered an unethical way of culling and creates a serious safety risk to the public.

Last year, nine such permits were granted compared to 108 the year before.

The WDAI has criticised Mr Deenihan for issuing permits allowing female deer to be culled from May to August, when they have fawns. Nearly two thirds (63%) of all permits issued were for female deer.

“If the female is shot during these months, the newborn deer will be orphaned and suffer a horrendous death from starvation, which can take a number of weeks,” the association said.