The British Deer Society-Northern Ireland Branch held a BDS Deer Management Course at Baronscourt estate, Co. Tyrone from the 21-25 November 2011.

The course which is run by the British Deer Society and LANTRA as an agricultural/wildlife management qualification is aimed at Deer Managers, but also those with management/strategic responsibility, such as stalkers, landowners, owners of sporting rights  and managers who would usually be the 'decision makers' concerning deer management issues appertaining to deer within differing habitats.  

See more pictures and read the full article here...

The Irish Deer Society welcome the draft policy vision for Deer management in Ireland and enclose (see attached) our submissions as requested.

The Irish Deer Society (IDS) is the foremost Deer organisation with the interest of Deer and their management in Ireland. The IDS was formed in 1968 and was active between 1968 and 1976 in the development of the Wildlife Act 1976. From 1976 and to date we have been active in the running of Deer Management and Hunting competency courses and have continued this work to date as an active member of the Deer Alliance HCAP.

Read or download the full article submissions here...

Notification by;
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Food Chain Information for Wild Deer

From 1st September 2011, a FCI document must be completed for each wild deer received at Game Handling Establishments approved by this Department. The hunter should complete the first part of the form (see link below). Please note that although the form refers to trained persons, there are currently no trained hunters in Ireland. However, training will commence in the near future. Therefore untrained hunters should tick the box for "No, and a trained person isn’t in a position to sign the declaration" and leave the second part of the form blank. Untrained hunters must present the form along with the whole deer including the head and all viscera (internal organs), expect (stet)* for the stomach and intestines, to the Game Handling Establishment".

The FCI Form is available at:
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/foodsafetyconsumerissues/controlsonmeat/foodchaininformation/LargeWildGameFCIdoc24aug11240811.pdf

The following "Trader Notice" has also been circulated, dated 24 August 2011:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Trader Notice: MH No. 12/2011

To: Operators of all DAFF approved Game Handling Establishments
Subject: Large Wild Game Food Chain Information (FCI) Document
Background
From 1st September 2011 a FCI document (attached) must be completed in respect of each wild deer received at DAFF approved Game Handling Establishments. The document should be completed by the hunter, the trained person (where relevant) and the Game Handling Establishment. It should be retained by the Game Handling Establishment.

Obligations on the hunter;

Read full Trader notice here...