Condemnation as calf shot in offaly

The Wild Deer Association of Ireland(WDAI) has condemned the actions of suspected deer poachers who shot a calf dead in Co Offaly in recent days.

Members of WDAI-an association of licensed hunters and deer stalkers- were outraged by the calf’s killing.

In a post on its Facebook page the WDAI said: “this disturbing image of a beef calf discovered in Co Offaly today [Thursday] is all too common in rural Ireland when poachers just see eyes shoot with no regard for livestock. The calf was found shot through the head with its mother standing nearby, this type of crime will cause outrage amongst the hunting and rural community”

The post urged landowners to be vigilant in relation to illegal hunting and asked anyone with information to contact their local Garda station, NPWS ranger or the WDAI in confidence.

WDAI’s Damien Hannigan said “one of our members came across the animal yesterday. The farmer and a local vet came to the scene and inspected the animal.” The vet concluded the animal had been shot in the last two or three days.

Describing the incident as “common,” Mr Hannigan said “we would regualarily receive that kind of thing where there is animals being shot at night.” Such illegal practices have caused “a lot of upset and outrage” among legitimate hunters, he remarked.

“They just dazzle the deer and they see eyes and they just shoot,” he said, adding, “what you are dealing with here is guys shooting through vehicles in the dead of night.”

Unfortunately for this calf, Mr Hannigan said its brown colour and white underbelly may have made it look more like a deer at night.

Mr Hannigan believes deer populations in Ireland are on the decline. However, he said the WDAI and the IFA are working together to assist landowners who  have issues with wild deer.