Deer Culling

Frank Erceg was victim of New Zealand's first helicopter hunting accident, but now his story, and that of the deer culling industry has come to life through his niece, Louise Maich. Audio

The success of live capture and the skyrocketing prices inevitably encourage poaching. Audio

By the mid 70’s things were about to change dramatically. The hunters had become so efficient they were shooting themselves out of a job. Audio

The mid 1960’s are the golden years for aerial hunters. Venison prices are high, fuel costs low and there seems no end to the deer. But something has to change. Audio

Shooting from choppers is a game changer but teams are learning from scratch, working at break-neck pace in such dangerous terrain that an accident is always on the cards. Audio

The arrival of helicopters turns the culling business on its head. Hunters shoot deer from the air and with big money to be made, venison recovery will never be the same. Audio

Suddenly everyone wants to be a culler but who will make the cut? Audio

The elimination strategy hasn't worked. In 20 years, the cullers have shot perhaps 10% of the deer. It’s time to up the ante. Audio

Red deer run rampant across the high country in New Zealand, causing extensive environmental damage. A 50-year effort to control the invasive animal gets underway. Audio

Deer Wars tells the story of the 50-year struggle to control New Zealand's red deer population. Lives were lost and fortunes made. Audio