A COMBINATION of cold weather and poaching could wipe out the deer population in Leinster.
Liam McGarry, president of the Irish Deer Society and secretary of the Leinster Deer Society, said yesterday that horrendous damage had been inflicted on the deer population by poachers during January’s cold weather.
Issuing an appeal to deer hunters in Leinster to stop hunting until the weather improved, Mr McGarry said poaching had gone out of control, especially in Wicklow.
“There has been a dramatic increase in poaching since the recession kicked in and last year, there was wholesale slaughter of deer during the bad weather.
“Animals which are in herds at this time of year came down from the high ground for food and shelter and were slaughtered by poachers.”
He said the poachers, who normally have licences, had been driving around in vans at night using lights to identify the deer and kill them, often with silencers fitted to their high-powered rifles.
“Someone is going to get killed because these operators shoot without knowing what is behind their quarry. We have already had reports of cattle and horses been shot and at least one report of a dwelling house hit by gunfire,” Mr McGarry added.
“It is only a matter of time before someone is killed or seriously injured because of the amount of poaching involved and the way these people operate.”
Mr McGarry said the Wildlife Service and the Garda had been putting in a special effort in recent weeks to combat poaching and a number of prosecutions were expected.
“However, it is virtually impossible to get a conviction unless the poachers are caught in the act. They have licences which allow them take a certain amount of deer and they use these as cover.”
He said there was a strong demand for venison, which was selling at €1.80 a kilo, and this was considerable money for a 40/50kg deer. Poaching was taking place all over the country but was particularly bad in Co Wicklow, which was difficult to police and where there was ready demand.
He was particularly concerned about the use of silencers on high-velocity rifles which were allowed here and in Britain.
“This aids the poacher and there is no other reason for them except for professional full-time personnel who would have to have a silencer for health and safety reasons.
“My main message is to ask genuine hunters to stop taking animals until the weather improves because we know what is happening and what happened with poaching last year.”