Latest figures show almost 2,700 wild deer culled in Laois in a year

Almost 2,700 wild deer were culled in Laois in the twelve months leading up to February 28, 2023. 

Data released by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to the Irish Deer Commission show 78,175 wild deer were culled in the 12 month period up February 28, 2023. 

The cull sets a record for the number of wild deer culled, up 41% from the previous record set in 2022 when 55,008 deer were culled. Hunters must make an annual declaration to NPWS stating the number of deer culled by county, sex, and species, and this data is provided to the Irish Deer Commission annually. 

While the data is not independently verified, hunters are required to sign a declaration confirming the accuracy of the information returned.

The figures for Laois showed there were 2,680 deer officially killed by deer hunters in the county in the 12 month period. 

However, Spokesperson for the Irish Deer Commission, Damien Hannigan, believes the true figure is higher. 

“The actual deer cull is likely to be significantly higher as the cull total does not include wild deer killed illegally known as deer poaching, nor does the total include the growing number of deer killed on our roads,” Mr Hannigan pointed out.  

“Over the last five years over 250,000 wild deer were culled in Ireland under licence from the NPWS and highlights the important role licensed deer hunters play in managing deer at sustainable levels to minimise negative impacts on farming, forestry, and the wider ecosystem,” he said. 

 “The Irish Deer Commission actively work with landowners who suffer negative impacts from wild deer, we also support the various agencies who deal with an increasing number of deer vehicle collisions on our roads through a network of trained members,” he said.

He believes there are several reasons for the increased number of deer being culled. 

“There may be several factors, firstly the number of hunters licensed to cull deer has grown significantly with 6,486 licenses issued in 2023, up 45% in the last 10 years when 4,502 licences were issued to cull deer during the open culling season from September 1 to February 28, with dedicated periods when male and female deer can be culled,” he said. 

The Irish Deer Commission believe restrictions around the management of deer during the Covid-19 pandemic, combined with what they say was a worldwide crash in venison prices, delays by NPWS in the issuing of deer culling permits, poor forestry design for the management of deer, and a rapid expansion afforestation in Ireland, all have created the perfect storm for deer numbers to increase.

Pictured above: Culled deer firgures per county in the twelve months up to February 28, 2023

The Irish Deer Commission says culling more breeding female deer rather than male deer is recognised as best practice deer management to maintain deer at a sustainable and healthy population, as one male can breed with many females.