Deer Huntng and Poaching in Ireland

Deer are a protected species in Ireland under the terms of the Wildlife Act, 1976 (as amended) and it is a serious offence to hunt them without a licence. The wild deer population in Ireland, which consists of red, fallow, sika, muntjac and hybrid deer, is managed by conservation rangers employed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The NPWS is part of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
The number of wild deer hunting licences issued by the NPWS varies from year to year, depending on demand, and the management of the deer population. The open season in Ireland also varies from year to year depending on the location and species of deer. Outside of the open hunting season, landowners can apply for a Section 42 licence to control deer on their lands if damage is being caused. You cannot hunt deer in Ireland without a licence and the penalties for hunting deer without a licence can include fines and/or imprisonment, or both. You can only hunt deer for the period stated on your licence. There is no charge for deer hunting licences.

Despite all the rules and regulations in Ireland for deer hunting, there have been many incidents of illegal hunting.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/man-who-shot-killarney-stag-to-pay-3-250-as-atonement-1.1530830

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-25104063

http://www.impartialreporter.com/news/roundup/articles/2013/12/14/403347-operation-against-deer-poaching-extended-into-fermanagh/

http://www.independent.ie/regionals/braypeople/news/dogs-being-used-in-illegal-hunt-for-deer-29960058.html

http://www.donegaldaily.com/2014/02/20/shock-as-stags-found-shot-and-dumped-in-donegal-countryside/

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/ribble_valley/11030420.Deer_mauled_to_death_by_dogs_in_Ribble_Valley/

All these incidents have happened in the past few months proving Ireland's wild deer are in danger and being exploited.



Taken from the wild deer association of ireland's website;

Significant decline in permits for deer damage a further sign of falling deer numbers

Information released by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) show a 36% fall year on year in the number of permits requested under section 42 of the wildlife acts. Permits are requested by landowners who suffer crop damage from deer, following an inspection by NPWS rangers the number of deer to be culled is agreed and the landowner nominates a hunter to undertake the cull.
Controversially Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan issued over 200 permits during the months of June, July and August when female deer have dependent young. The female normally hides its young while feeding and if culled the hidden fawn will suffer a horrendous death from starvation.
The Wild Deer Association of Ireland (WDAI) the representative body for deer hunters has asked Minister Deenihan to review the current process for the granting of these permits as there is evidence of widespread abuse mainly for financial gain. A spokesperson for WDAI said the decline in these permits is a further indication of the decline in wild deer numbers nationally due to illegal hunting by poachers, some areas have seen deer numbers decimated or wiped out.