The Wild Deer Association of Ireland has welcomed new measures aimed at protecting dwindling stocks. According to the association, a representative body for Irish deer hunters, “unprecedented” poaching is threatening deer populations in many parts of the country.
Under a new agreement between the association and Ireland’s main game- handling establishments, culled deer will no longer be purchased out of season and the payment of a premium for red deer is to be removed.
Speaking of the agreement, 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”.
The association has welcomed figures showing permits to cull wild deer outside of their designated hunting season dropped by 16 per cent in 2011.