While I accept that some level of poaching is always going on, I have no evidence that there is a particularly high level of poaching of deer at present. Anti-poaching controls are operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and, where evidence of illegal activity is established, prosecutions have been and will be brought against those involved. Visits are made by NPWS staff to wildlife dealers to check their sources of supply and butchers, hoteliers and restaurateurs are also checkedout where there is reason to believe that such visits are warranted.
While precise figures are not available, best indications are that poaching has declined rather than increased in recent years and such illegal activity does not pose a threat to the size of deer populations at this time. The NPWS are actively working with other interests, such as Coillte Teoranta, to protect deer not just in County Wicklow but throughout the country.
I appeal to those with any evidence of deer poaching to make such evidence available to the NPWS and/or the Garda Síochána so that prosecutions can be brought against those involved in this type of illegal activity.