Forestry NowDeer Management in Ireland with Seppi Höna
Today I speak with Regional Forest Inspector Seppi Höna about national efforts to address spiraling deer numbers in Ireland. We discuss the problems deer create in forestry and also what the scale of the problem is. Seppi explains how a national strategy group is providing direction for DMU's deer management units, which are now operational across the Republic of Ireland. We chat about whether we need more incentives to cull deer, about ethical and operational considerations relating to culled deer being left on the hill, as opposed to being recovered for venison. Finally, there are supports for deer protection in new forests, so we discuss these and other strategies forest owners can take to protect their trees. Seppi Höna is a Regional Forest Inspector and Forest Service Inspector at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Ireland. He has chaired key committees for the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group (IDMSG) and presented on the impact of deer in Irish forestry. This podcast is part of the Deep Dives series which is supported by the Irish Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. If you're thinking of planting a new forest or if you want information on financial and technical supports to manage your existing forest then go to http://gov.ie/forestryforyou Key Points: Deer damage is on the rise, as evidenced by the National Forest Inventory. In 2022, 36% of sample plots exhibited some level of deer damage, a notable increase from previous years. Deer impact on Irish forestry and native woodlands Development and implementation of Ireland's deer management units Public perception and stakeholder engagement in deer culling The role of incentives and policies in deer population control Research and scientific advice guiding deer management strategies The importance of habitat assessment and landscape-level management Challenges of invasive deer species and non-native populations The potential for local venison markets and food sustainability Ethical considerations in deer culling and carcass management Future policy directions and stakeholder collaboration in Ireland Quotes: "Deer can damage all types of trees if at high levels." Levels of Deer Damage? "We know there's a negative trajectory there, even from our national inventory." Opposition to Culling? "Most responsible stakeholders want deer to be at sustainable levels... It's essential to cull deer to keep them at a healthy balance." Culling and leaving deer carcasses on the hill: "I can see absolutely a place for this. If you're in an a very remote area... that's completely acceptable. But I do have an issue if it's the case that deer are being shot close to access tracks from an ethical point of view and they're being left there because the deer can easily be brought to a cold store and brought into there to the the food chain". Developing a local market for venison: "We might move to a place where a local hunter could sell venison directly himself... at the minute the hunter can't" Click here for the ForestryNow podcast newsletter signup Follow the Guest on: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seppi-h%C3%B6na-033b2075/ Seppi's Deer Impact Assessment Report as presented at the Society of Irish Foresters Field day: https://www.societyofirishforesters.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Deer-impact-assessment-SIF-fieldday.pdf Other Links of Note: Farm Relief Services Deer Management Programme: https://frscoop.ie/deer-management-programme-ireland/ Local DMU Case Study in Achill, Co Mayo: https://frscoop.ie/deer-management-achill-case-study/ Report of the Deer Management Strategy Group: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/report-of-the-deer-management-strategy-group/ Follow the Forestry Now Podcast on: Website: https://forestrynow.eu/ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-forestry-now-podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForestryNow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestry_now_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForestryNowPodcast/ Contact Dermot: forestrynowpodcast@gmail.com Or at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-mcnally-90b06421/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and overview of deer impact in Ireland 02:14 Seppi Hona's background and role in forestry and wildlife management 04:14 Findings from the National Forest Inventory on deer damage 06:06 Deer impact on different types of trees and forests 07:49 Stakeholder perspectives on deer population levels 09:51 Assessing deer health and population estimates 12:58 Irish Deer Management Strategy Group and its objectives 15:58 Deer management measures and public engagement 17:51 Deer management units and coordination efforts 19:59 Role of Farm Relief Services and deer culling infrastructure 21:58 Legal tools: open season and out-of-season licenses 23:49 Practical management: protecting new plantations from deer 26:02 Incentives for hunters and deer culling targets 27:52 Challenges and ethical considerations in deer culling 29:56 Market potential for venison and promoting local consumption 32:01 Invasive deer species and eradication challenges 34:05 European hunting culture and Ireland's unique position 35:57 Getting started with deer hunting in Ireland 38:01 Controversies: deer culling practices and ethics 40:14 Research and future studies on deer ecology 44:08 Summary and final thoughts on deer management in Ireland
