Achill deer management programme in place to ‘improve road safety’
A “structured deer management programme” is now underway in the Achill area of Co. Mayo to improve road safety.
This is in response to the “very serious increase in deer-related road traffic incidents experienced locally in recent years”, according to James Kilbane, Achill Irish Farmer's Association (IFA) branch secretary.
Kilbane added: “Over the past number of years, and particularly in recent times, many people in the Achill parish have come forward with accounts of collisions and near misses involving wild deer on local roads, including the Achill–Mulranny road, roads across the Achill and Currane peninsula.
“These incidents have resulted in serious vehicle damage, hospitalisation of motorists and passengers, trauma to families including children involved in collisions, and significant financial costs to individuals and insurers.”
He added that a deer management programme is now in place “in response to these very real public safety concerns raised by the community”.
The programme is being directed by the FRS Co-Op Deer Management Programme, working closely with local licensed gun club members.
Kilbane said that the work is “being carried out in a structured and lawful manner through a recognised deer management framework”.
‘Insured hunters’
“All activity is undertaken by licensed and insured hunters operating under the relevant permissions and licensing provisions of the Wildlife Acts and in cooperation with the appropriate authorities," the Achill IFA representative said.
“This work is not a random or uncontrolled culling of deer.”
He added that the programme's aims are “responsibly controlling numbers in specific areas, reducing the risk of further road traffic accidents and encouraging deer to move back towards the hills and away from busy roads”.
“Local landowners and the community have been very cooperative and supportive of the work being undertaken," Kilbane said.
“Since the programme began, there has already been some positive progress observed locally, with a reduction in incidents reported in certain areas.
“However, deer numbers remain high and the work will continue over the coming months.”
Kilbane also emphasised that this is a “controlled programme involving authorised and licensed participants only” and that Achill is “not open to outside or unauthorised hunting activity”.
On behalf of Achill IFA, he also thanked “the many members of the public who came forward to share their experiences and information in recent weeks”.
"Their cooperation played an important role in helping to bring attention to the seriousness of the issue and in supporting the development of the current management plan”.
Last year, FRS Co-Op appointed local coordinators to lead the 15 deer management units (DMUs) that have been set up across the country.
The establishment of the DMUs was one of the recommendations of the final report published by the Deer Management Strategy Group in December 2023.
