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Story: Conservation – a history

Deer control, Fiordland

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Deer control, Fiordland

From 1965, helicopters were used in deer control operations. This helicopter is recovering carcasses and delivering them to the Ranginui, moored in Fiordland National Park, in 1971. The deer were later sold as wild venison. Since the 1990s, deer can be killed for sale only in a licensed slaughterhouse.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10058004

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How to cite this page

Simon Nathan, Conservation – a history – Control of introduced animals, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13926/deer-control-fiordland (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Simon Nathan, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 August 2015.