First Deer Hunter information forest walk takes place in Slieve Blooms

The FRS Deer Management Programme has urged all interested hunters and landowners to give their input during what is a “golden opportunity” for the initiative.

The call came as the FRS Deer Management Programme held its first Deer Hunter Information Forest Walk in Kinnitty, Co Offaly on Friday, June 26. The event was attended by approximately 100 hunters, landowners and interested members of the public and included speeches and presentations from Offaly TD John Clendennen, UCD, Maynooth University, Pro Silva, and the Native Woodlands Trust.

Additionally, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has announced that five cold storage larders to hold deer carcasses have arrived and are being installed in designated Deer Management Units across Ireland. This investment was a strategic decision to improve the viability of deer hunting in rural Ireland and to develop the country’s wild venison industry.

FRS is facilitating the implementation of best practice deer management on a landscape scale, in collaboration with all stakeholders across the country, reducing deer numbers where appropriate, in order to help facilitate various land use objectives, such as preventing biodiversity loss and protecting agriculture and forestry.

Speaking at the information event, Offaly TD John Clendennen said: “Deer populations have been an issue that has only now, for the first time, been addressed by a government where there are resources being applied to it and I think it’s important that the most is made of it to ensure that initiatives like this continue into the future. Really how this is going to work is through farmers, landowners, foresters and hunters all working together to make that compelling case.

“People can be on social media, and they can hear information that may not be accurate. What I would ask everyone here at today’s event, if you don’t have a contact already, make it your business to have a contact with the FRS Deer Management team that you can pick up the phone to at any time.”

Michael Keegan, manager of FRS Co-Op’s deer management programme, added: “Deer management is not something that can be delivered from an office – it depends heavily on working together and making informed decisions at a local level. This is a golden opportunity for hunters to shape the future of deer management in Ireland. As hunters, we should want this programme to be successful, we may not get another opportunity to have this much input again.

“We need hunters and landowners to be active participants in their own Deer Management Groups, helping to drive decisions, identifying local priorities, and shaping how deer management is carried out on the ground in their locality. The best decisions are made by people who know the land. FRS coordinators are there to support you all in this by helping to structure the groups and encourage good data management.”