Animal welfare considerations are taken seriously during predator control operations, the Department of Conservation says.
Doc and Zero Invasive Predators (Zip) are part way through an aerial 1080 operation aiming to kill the wild cats endangering the southern dotterel on Stewart Island/Rakiura.
It is expected that rats and possums will eat the bait and cats will feed on their carcasses.
During the first phase of the operation early last month, three dead white-tailed deer were found with the remains of 1080 pellets in their stomachs in a hunting block where pellets with added deer repellant were laid.
Last weekend, New Zealand Game Animal Council chief executive Corina Jordan said the use of 1080 poison where white-tailed deer lived could severely reduce the numbers of the "iconic" game animal.
It was also an inhumane way to kill the deer, she said.
Doc national programmes director Ben Reddiex said the department took animal welfare considerations seriously during its predator control operations.
"We only use legal control methods that have been evaluated as acceptably humane by an animal ethics committee."
White-tailed deer were not a target species for the Predator Free Rakiura Project.
"However, it is acknowledged that some deer may die as part of the predator control operations on Rakiura."
Staff were monitoring the results of the 1080 drop to understand the impacts on a variety of species, including the white-tailed deer.
At present Doc had no deer management operations planned for the island.
"There are no plans to eradicate white-tailed deer on Rakiura."
Deer were introduced to the island, and in large numbers could affect the ecosystem by eating native vegetation.
"However, Doc recognises that hunting white-tailed deer in Rakiura is valued for food, business, and recreation purposes."
Hunting can still continue during the operation, he said.
Doc and Zip were talking with the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, the Game Animal Council and experienced hunters to address concerns.
All were working to ensure there were as few disruptions as possible to hunting opportunities and the white-tailed deer population while aiming for a predator-free island, he said.
The future use of deer repellant was also part of the discussion.
Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager said he supported the effort to eradicate predators threatening native species.
"At the same time, I recognise the cultural, recreational, and economic value of white-tailed deer hunting on Stewart Island.
"While deer are not targeted by predator control operations, I acknowledge concerns about incidental losses from 1080.
If every rat, cat, possum and hedgehog on the island was killed using every reasonable tool available, there would not be any need for 1080, he said.
