Farmers in north Mayo are calling for a deer cull – claiming the local population is "decimating farmland" and becoming a road safety risk.
The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association have appealed for "radical action" on wild deer population numbers.
The group are calling for a "more coordinated approach" to cull deer.
On Lunchtime Live, Mayo farmer Martin McAndrew said wild deer have been destroying his land.
"They have a vast area to roam but they’re not being kept in check, and that’s what’s causing the problems now," he said.
"They graze on land and I myself had to stop cutting hay."
Mr McAndrew said he would like more support from The Parks and Wildlife Service to control the population and cull the deer.
Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), stags fighting, Germany, Europe. Alamy.comRural Ireland Organisation founder Gerry Loftus joined calls for a deer cull.
“The population of deer is out of control and it has been for a number of years," he said.
“We have flocks of deer around houses at night, we have them on the road, we have them decimating farmland.”
Opposition to deer culls
Association of Hunt Saboteurs Director John Tierney called for an alternative to culling, which he said is a "short term solution to a long term problem".
"They're culling deer every year and yet the deer population is increasing," he said.
Mr Tierney called for an alternative solution, such as deer corridors, where "deer can go through a farm without interfering with farm operations".
Addressing road safety
To address the road safety issues, Mr Tierney said the solution lies in "better driving" and "better signage".
He also said a tourism industry around deer watching could provide opportunities for local farmers.
"There seems to be a mentality amongst farmers that all wildlife is bad," Mr Tierney said.
"We could turn this on its head very easily and create a tourism industry out of deer watching."
Mr Tierney said that organising deer watching for tourists could be an "opportunity" for farmers.
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