A white-tailed deer appears on a trail camera on Stewart Island. PHOTO: DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATIONThe high death rate of Stewart Island white-tail 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 white-tail 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. The large majority of the Rakiura white-tail deer population was unaffected, and deer would gradually re-enter and repopulate the operational area.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 24, 2026 15:54 UTC