PHOTO: DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATIONThe high death rate of Stewart Island whitetail deer during last year’s aerial 1080 operation is not acceptable, a hunting advocate says. The Department of Conservation (Doc) said although the number of deer killed in the poison drop was higher than expected, the large majority of the Rakiura whitetail deer population was unaffected and deer would repopulate the affected area. Rakiura Whitetail Trust chairman Adam Fairmaid said a way to keep the deer safe in future 1080 bait aerial operations had to be found. Footage revealed on average a 75% reduction in deer detections by cameras in the deer repellent area in contrast with a 97% reduction in the wider operational area. The study concluded the deer were more likely to eat a lethal dose of 1080 bait pellets than any other deer population in the country — and adding deer repellent to the bait only slightly reduced the impact, it said.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 19, 2026 17:26 UTC