Farmers in Co Wicklow could benefit from banding together to reduce deer density on their land, a meeting in the county heard this week.

It could streamline finding licensed hunters and obtaining section 42 licenses when they are required.

A co-ordinated approach could be a more effective way of reducing deer numbers, preventing deer simply moving from one area to another to avoid hunting.

Farmers at the meeting of several West Wicklow IFA branches expressed frustration at continuing high levels of TB

However, it wouldn’t counter the problem of deer hiding in Coillte and privately owned forestry.

Farmers at the meeting of several West Wicklow IFA branches expressed frustration at continuing high levels of TB.

Some farmers at the meeting called for the Department of Agriculture to organise a cull of high deer numbers.

However, the Department speaker present said that it was up to landowners to address this problem.

At 8.6%, TB herd incidence in west Wicklow is almost 2.5 times the national average.

Reactors per 1,000 tests stands at 5.64 compared with the national average of 1.97.

The area has 540 cattle herds and had 371 reactors in 2018.