Wild Deer Management and Meat Recovery

As part of the Game Animal Council’s work to help implement the Te Ara ki Mua Wild Animal Management Framework we recently completed a report into meat recovery associated with wild deer management in New Zealand. The research was undertaken through liaison with and funding from the Department of Conservation and contributes to our collective understanding for how some recently applied deer management approaches fit within the deer management system.

The report, is available here and summarises the key features, outcomes, challenges and opportunities of four different deer management projects with and without meat recovery, including:

  • The Central North Island Sika Foundation (CNISF) Mince Project.
  • The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation (FWF) Mince Project 2020.
  • The Lake Sumner Recreational Hunting Area (RHA) Deer Management Project.
  • The DOC 2022 Fiordland Deer Contract.

The report also discusses how these four management approaches fit within the wider New Zealand deer management system, outlines key considerations for deciding the appropriate deer management approaches to implement, explores potential innovations to approaches that incorporate meat recovery for charity and provides recommendations for further work.

Thanks to all those involved and consulted in the development of the report.

Valuing White-tailed Deer on Stewart Island/Rakiura

In June 2023 the Game Animal Council, with support from the Rakiura Hunter Camp Trust (RHCT), conducted a short survey of hunters to determine what white-tailed deer on Stewart Island/Rakiura and the hunting experience mean to the New Zealand hunting community. Highlight results of that survey are available here and indicate that the experience of hunting white-tailed deer on the island is highly-valued. 

Results of the survey not only inform our collective knowledge, but also help those with decision-making responsibilities understand the value of the white-tailed deer hunting experience on Stewart Island/Rakiura to both the hunting community and as a significant source of visitors.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

If you are hunting on Stewart Island, please remember to submit your hunter report to the RHCT. This information is important for measuring the contribution of hunters to deer management on the island. Reports can be submitted here.

2022 Fiordland deer management operation

A jointly-developed management project successfully removed 432 female deer from Fiordland National Park. The project, which was implemented by the Department of Conservation, with input from the Game Animal Council (GAC) and Fiordland Wapiti Foundation (FWF), removed female deer (hinds) from sensitive conservation areas in western Fiordland around Kaikiekie/Bradshaw Sound…READ MORE.

Kaimanawa REZ Aerial Deer Management

With assistance from the Game Animal Council, the Sika Foundation Conservation Trust applied and was granted funding through the Government’s Jobs for Nature Programme to deliver several deer management and conservation projects through to 2025. One of these is an adaptive deer management and research programme in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forest Parks. The project will be led by the Sika Foundation strongly collaborating with the Department of Conservation and will start with a focus on the 15,000ha Remote Experience Zone (REZ) in the Kaimanawa Forest Park…READ MORE.

Tahr Ballot Kea Sightings Project

The GAC was really pleased to support the NZ Tahr Foundation and Kea Conservation Trust in developing the Tahr Ballot Kea Sightings Project. The project is designed so that hunters in the tahr ballot can contribute to recording sightings and conserving kea.
 
The tahr ballot area is critical to NZ’s kea population. By recording kea sightings and individually banded kea we can gain a better understanding of how far and where the birds move, how many new birds are recruited into the population each year and how we can help conserve them.
 
Each hunting party in the tahr ballot receives the kea sightings pamphlet along with the NZ Tahr Foundation’s tahr returns and information booklet in their ballot pack at the helipad before being flown in. They are requested to record their kea sightings in the pamphlet and submit it along with their tahr returns in dedicated box at the hanger following their flight out.
If hunters or other backcountry users encounter kea we would strongly encourage them to record those encounters at the Kea Database, which is a citizen science initiative from the Kea Sightings Project.

Fiordland Wapiti Area Venison Project

The Game Animal Council and Fiordland Wapiti Foundation partnered with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to provide 18,000kg of free-range wild Fiordland venison to foodbanks and feed thousands of New Zealand families in need.

In 2020 600 deer were removed from Fiordland National Park for processing into 18,000 1kg wild venison mince packets that were distributed throughout the country. This resulted in benefits for the wapiti herd, conservation due to lower deer numbers, provided jobs and employment for local meat processors and helicopter operators.

The project was jointly funded by the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation with the Game Animal Council administering the programme.

A big thanks goes to Safari Club International (NZ), New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, Central North Island Sika Foundation, Tahr Foundation and NZ Hunter Magazine who came on board to help with transportation and promotion.

Southern Lakes Helicopters and Fiordland Helicopters undertook the recovery, Fare Game processed the venison into mince and Bowmont Wholesale Meats provided storage facilities.

You can read more on the project including some great venison mince recipes from famous Kiwi chef’s here.

Vertebrate Toxic Agent Use Policy

GAC’s position on the use of vertebrate toxins to control animal pests in New Zealand can be found here.