Sherlock made his comments following a meeting on the issue organised by Wicklow ICSA in The Glen of Imaal, one of the worst affected areas: “I was given a guided tour of the affected areas by ICSA’s Wicklow national executive member Tom Stephenson and it was a real eye opener to see first-hand how bad the deer problem really is,” said Sherlock.

“Recreational hunters will never be able to deal with the overpopulation. Farmers in these areas are at breaking point.”

Sherlock added that the ICSA will be requesting meetings with Coillte and National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) to relay its concerns and to stress in the strongest terms the need for solutions to be found. Fencing, controlled burning and deer culling will be some of the options open for discussion.

“It is time for a more concerted effort by all sides involved,” Sherlock said. “These farmers cannot be hung out to dry over a problem not of their own making. They need support and they need solutions and for those responsible to step up to the plate.”

TB in deer in Calary

In early February around 150 landowners and hunters met in Roundwood, Co Wicklow, to launch a deer control programme in the Calary area of Wicklow.

Since a survey showed that 18% of deer in the area tested positive for TB two years ago, consensus has been building around the need to reduce their density. While there is no reliable data on the deer population in Ireland, the number of animals shot by hunters has increased rapidly in the past 20 years.

TB and deer in Kerry and Tipperary

In last week’s Irish Farmers Journal, news correspondent Pat O’Toole reported on the problem with TB and deer in counties Kerry and Tipperary.

In response to calls for fencing to keep deer off farmers’ lands, the NPWS said it believes this would not be an appropriate solution.

Read more

Farmers and hunters meet to agree deer control in Co Wicklow

Department to vaccinate 1,730 badgers against TB this year