25/06/2026
This isn't the kind of post I like making, but it is necessary to set the record straight.
Late yesterday afternoon, we received an urgent call to deal with a deer on one of our managed blocks. The animal had made its way into the township and was photographed with a large portion of its face missing after being poorly shot. Understandably, this caused a lot of distress to the community and frankly, it is a terrible look for the hunting community as a whole.
Let me be absolutely clear: This deer was not wounded during one of our culls. We have not been operating in this specific area for the last three weeks precisely because the landowner notified us that recreational hunters were active on adjacent blocks.
Once we were alerted, we managed to contact the neighboring properties as the deer slowly made its way back to the greenbelt along the river. We secured permission, went in with the thermals, and humanely culled her to end her suffering without any additional stress.
There are concerns surrounding head-shooting deer. While it is highly effective and an industry standard for professional contractors, it requires a specific skillset, experience, and the right optics. It is always tempting especially in tall grass when the head is all you can see to just take the shot. But if you do not have the appropriate skillset, this exact scenario is the aftermath that contractors, landowners, and the community are left to clean up. Shoot within your skillset.
If you make a mistake and wound an animal, Locate it. It took us 5 minutes and a few phone calls to get access to the neighboring property to recover this deer. Most landowners do not want an injured animal suffering on their place to attract predators, and they will likely give you access to fix your mistake. Yes, they are feral pests, but they do not deserve to suffer because of a lapse in judgment.
