90% of Landowners in Deer Management Areas Report Issues with Deer
New research from FRS Co-Op has highlighted the growing impact of unsustainable deer populations on farmers and landowners, with 90% of respondents in identified deer-management areas reporting deer-related issues on their land.
The FRS Co-Op Deer Management Survey 2026, which gathered responses from almost 200 landowners, found that the challenges extend across agriculture, forestry, biodiversity and road safety. Some 60% of respondents said problems associated with deer had increased over the past year.
The Financial Impact on Farmers
For farmers, the impact can be both practical and financial.
Damage to fencing emerged as the most commonly reported issue, resulting in additional maintenance and repair costs as well as challenges with livestock control.
Deer grazing can also have a significant impact on grass and silage production. Research referenced by FRS Co-Op Deer Management Programme Manager Michael Keegan found that deer grazing can reduce silage yields by up to 30%, potentially costing farmers as much as €180 per acre.
The survey also highlighted concerns around damage to crops and young trees, while deer activity in commercial forestry and native woodland can affect regeneration and biodiversity.
A Growing Challenge for Landowners
The findings indicate that these issues are becoming increasingly difficult for individual farmers and landowners to manage alone.
While 72% of respondents are already attempting to manage deer-related issues locally, current approaches can be fragmented and dependent on individual arrangements with hunters.
This reinforces one of the central principles of the FRS Co-Op Deer Management Programme: effective deer management requires collaboration.
Deer move freely across property boundaries, which means management on one farm or property in isolation can only achieve so much. Landowners, hunters and neighbouring stakeholders sharing accurate local information can provide a much clearer understanding of deer numbers, movements and impacts across the wider landscape.
Local Knowledge, Shared Data and Better Decisions
Hunters and landowners are central to effective deer management.
Their first-hand knowledge of the land provides valuable information about deer movements, population trends and the impacts being experienced locally.
Sharing accurate information helps build the evidence required to make better-informed management decisions appropriate to individual areas.
FRS Co-Op’s Deer Management Coordinators support this process by facilitating communication and collaboration between stakeholders. Management decisions ultimately remain with the landowners and hunters involved, supported by local knowledge, evidence and the appropriate legal framework.
A Sustainable Approach to Deer Management
The aim is not to portray deer themselves as the problem. Wild deer are an important part of Ireland’s natural heritage.
However, where populations become unsustainable in particular areas, responsible management is needed to achieve a better balance between healthy deer populations, available habitats, agriculture, forestry, biodiversity and road safety.
Commenting on the survey findings, Michael Keegan, Manager of the FRS Co-Op Deer Management Programme, said farmers’ concerns about the impact of increasing deer populations are becoming increasingly clear.
The survey demonstrates both the scale of the challenge and the need for greater participation from landowners in locally coordinated deer management.
Get Involved in Your Local Deer Management Area
If you’re a farmer or landowner experiencing deer-related issues, the first step is to make contact with your local Deer Management Area Coordinator.
By sharing local information and working alongside neighbouring landowners and hunters, you can help build a more accurate picture of deer activity in your area and support informed, sustainable deer management.
As featured in the Irish Farmers Journal
The findings of the FRS Co-Op Deer Management Survey 2026 have also been featured by the Irish Farmers Journal. Read here.
