As part of the Game Animal Council’s work to help implement the Te Ara ki Mua Wild Animal Management Framework, in 2023 we 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 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 Department of Conservation 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.
Read the Wild Deer Management and Meat Recovery Report here (PDF File).
Thanks to all those involved and consulted in the development of the report.