Animal welfare outcomes of helicopter-based shooting of deer in Australia

Abstract Context Helicopter-based shooting has been widely used to kill deer in Australasia, but the animal welfare outcomes of this technique have not evaluated. Aim To assess helicopter-based Australia by quantifying fates seen and shot at, duration procedures number location bullet wounds deer. Methods Three control operations were assessed. These targeted: (1) chital (Axis axis) Queensland, (2) fallow (Dama dama) Australian Capital Territory (3) New South Wales. For each operation, an independent veterinarian conducted ante-mortem (i.e. from helicopter as occurred) post-mortem ground after had ceased) observations. The data estimate proportion that shot, chase time (CT), insensibility (TTI) total (TT; CT + TTI). numbers locations recorded post-mortem. Key results Ante-mortem observations performed for 114–318 60–105 deer, respectively, three operations. Shots fired at 69–76% observed. Median ranged 73 145 s. TTI 17 37 s median TT 109 162 mean per 1.43 2.57. Animal better two than operation. In both operations, most multiple times least once head or thorax. contrast, fewer less often thorax, non-fatal wounding was Conclusions best achieved when followed a fly-back procedure mandated shots into animal. Implications could be improved with national-level standard operating requiring helicopters fly back over animals repeatedly shoot