Thread: Should I have shot this Deer?

In reply to yeah_na_missed this is my 2c. In many parts of the country you're dead right. However, some parts carry minimal numbers and locals might not be too happy with this approach. Horses for courses and all that. Over the top of the south island region it's pretty much shoot any feral Ungulate you come across.For context I'll give some scenarios.
1: Area of Queen Charlotte, approx. 290Ha. A few deer around but main problem is goats and pigs. Don't worry about deer too much but since 2016 have shot over 3000 animals, mostly goats. Getting on top of problem but there is always in-fill from surrounding areas, bush is recovering though.
2: Another area of QC sound, several hundred Ha holding deer, goats & pigs. Trap and Trigger have shot this area via chopper/thermal gear and follow-up ground shooting. Animals are still there and a problem.Where accessible you can still easily shoot animals so again it's shoot what you see.
3: Private station in Awatere valley about 19000 Ha, some of which I have shot over. A few years ago 1300 deer were shot via chopper, there is ongoing WARO on a small scale and numbers are still escalating. Another area where the policy is thin to waste on parts of station.As a side note, go back a few days later and find pig numbers that are surprising, again shoot on sight.
4: Private station down Kekerengu way. Nearly 1000 Ha. Deer goats and pigs present. Goats and pigs the policy is shoot on sight. Deer are a different story.Property is a popular roar blk. and owner derives a small income from this so deer are mostly a no-go. However when numbers are too high it's a selective culling situation. Deer numbers are manageable. Its good to see groups of velvet stags, assess head quality and cull as necessary.
5; DOC estate it's pretty much shoot what you see for me.
Before anyone gets all wound up and precious, where easily accessible I recover a fair bit of meat which gets supplied to local Food Bank, Community Kitchen, RSE workers or general public in that order for free. Basically it's up to individual choice as to whether to shoot animal or not. Post got a bit long winded sorry.