Deer Management Programme
FRS Co-Op, under the guidance of the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group (IDMSG), aim to ensure a sustainable population of wild deer is maintained in Ireland, which achieves balance with the needs of our natural ecosystems, agriculture, forestry and public safety through collaboration and engagement with all stakeholders.
FAQ's relating to the Programme
Why is deer management necessary?
Deer are an important part of Ireland’s heritage and grazing by deer is an integral part of woodland ecology. Where it occurs at appropriate levels, it facilitates structural diversity, encourages high levels of biodiversity in the vegetation, maintains open areas and stimulates natural regeneration. Where grazing pressure is too high, plants are damaged, bark may be stripped from trees, regeneration is prevented or restricted, and both bird and invertebrate populations may decline. Deer management aims to ensure that deer populations are at sustainable levels in this Country. Achieving this objective will assist our natural environment with the development and protection of our woodlands and other habitats, protect farmland and also contribute to human safety by reducing the number of road traffic accidents involving deer
What is the Deer Management Strategy?
In September 2022, then Minister for Agriculture Food & the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, with support from the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcom Noonan, appointed Mr Teddy Cashman as an independent Chairman to lead the drive in developing a renewed vision and strategy for the management of wild deer in Ireland.
The Irish Deer Management Strategy Group (IDMSG) was set up with representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM), National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) & Coillte. The work of this group led to the development of a strategy which aims to ensure the sustainable and ongoing management of wild deer in Ireland.
The full report can be accessed here
What organisations are involved in this strategy?
The development of the strategy is being led by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte.
Other organisations who had representatives involved in different aspects of its development include:
- Irish Farmers Association
- Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association
- Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association
- Teagasc
- Bord Bia
- Country Sport Ireland
- Deer Alliance
- FX Buckley Restaurants and Butchers
- Irish Country Sports Association
- Irish Deer Society
- Irish Deer Commission
- Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association
- JJ Game Dealing
- National Association of Regional Game Councils
- Premier Game
- Pro Silva Ireland
- Restaurants Association of Ireland
- Re Wild Wicklow
- Sligo County Council
- Sporting Rights Owners Association of Ireland
- Wicklow Uplands Council
- Wicklow Deer Management Partnership
- Wild Deer Association of Ireland
- Wild Irish Game
- Woodlands of Ireland
How many deer are there in Ireland?
Counting deer over large areas is difficult, expensive and very imprecise. Consequently, there is no exact number on the overall population of wild deer in this country at present. Nonetheless there is good data to show that the wild deer population and distribution have grown considerably in recent decades and that deer impacts are increasing.
As part of this strategy a more detailed analysis of the deer population and the impacts deer are having on wildlife habitats and agriculture will be undertaken, enabling the development of more comprehensive data on Ireland’s wild deer population.
What is FRS Co-Op’s role?
FRS Co-Op has been tasked with implementing and delivering a number of the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group recommendations such as setting up deer management units with local coordinators. This follows their selection via a public tender process.
FRS Co-Op was founded in 1980 by farmers who support their communities and as Ireland has grown, so have we. Today we’re a multisector Co-Op with a focus on innovation, made up of fair minded experts who live and work in the communities we serve.
The Deer Management Strategy includes the development of Deer Management Units DMUs. What is a DMU?
A DMU is an area selected for co-ordinated deer management involving landowners, land managers, hunters and other stakeholders. DMUs will enable the delivery of co-ordinated deer management objectives at landscape scale around Ireland.
The primary management objective will be the reduction of deer impacts on land management activities (bio-diversity/conservation, agriculture, forestry, road safety,) through a number of actions.
Through the work of the DMU co-ordinators, the national deer management objectives as outlined in the national strategy group report will be implemented at local DMU level. The role of the DMU co-ordinators is to assist this process by liaising, co-ordinating, supporting and advising landowners, land managers, hunters and other stakeholders in each DMU.
How many DMUs will there be under this strategy?
As outlined by the Irish Deer Management Strategy report, 15 DMUs will be established around Ireland.
Where are the DMUs going to be located?
Potential DMUs are currently in the process of being identified and selected by the IDMSG. They will focus on deer hotspots around the country. These are areas where the underlying data (e.g. native woodland monitoring, commercial forest inventories, road traffic accident statistics etc.) demonstrate that deer impacts are particularly significant.
When will the deer management activity begin?
The deer management activity will begin as soon as the DMUs have been selected and the team of DMU co-ordinators tasked with the delivery of the strategy has been recruited.
Will I still be able to hunt on my own grounds?
Landownership rights are unaffected by the implementation of this strategy or by the setting up of DMUs. Landowners will still decide and have the final say on who manages and hunts deer on their land holdings.
It is envisaged that landowners will engage with local hunters or hunting right owners who they work with currently or have in the past. Some landowners may choose to bring in additional external deer management resources in order to achieve the objectives agreed at DMU level, ultimately the decision on who accesses and manages deer on their land is for the landowners and land managers.
DMU co-ordinators can, if required, assist by liaising, co-ordinating/linking, supporting and advising landowners, land managers, hunters and other stakeholders in each DMU
I am interested in obtaining a hunting licence – what is involved?
The process of obtaining of a deer hunting licence remains unchanged and is unconnected with the setting up of DMUs.
The issue and processing of deer hunting licences remains the responsibility of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). See https://www.npws.ie/licencesandconsents/hunting/deer-hunting-licences for information on how to apply.
How can I apply to take part in this programme?
Once the DMUs have been selected by the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group (IDMSG), we will be seeking qualified, experienced and knowledgeable individuals to fulfil the role of DMU co-ordinators at a local level, who will help with the delivery of this strategy in the relevant area.
Please keep an eye on this website over the coming weeks, where we will publish details on these roles and the application process once the details have been finalised.
