The decision by the Taupo District Council to call for a ban of the aerial use of 1080 poison was not a hunter-led initiative, says Bay of Plenty Deerstalker Association spokesman Dean Maisey.
The decision was made by Taupo District Council after receiving submissions from the Turangi Community Board, a national conservation group, a farmer lobby group, local iwi and tourism interests, says Dean.

'In part it is also supported by the local Taupo branch of NZ Deerstalker Association,” says Dean.
'TDC also received ample information from DoC, Environment Waikato, and the Animal Health Board as part of the process.”
Contrary to Aongatete Forest Restoration Trust spokesman John Howard's statement that the issue is about killing the pests, rather than the poison, Dean says the issue is the poison 1080, and the many detrimental effects from its use.
'Supporters of the TDC decision are not saying ‘Don't do pest control', but ‘Don't use 1080',” says Dean.
'There are other safer and more holistic ground control options which provide employment and empower rural communities rather than gross profits for the 1080 poison enterprises.
'People like Mr Howard ‘need to learn to think past 1080',” says Dean.
Dean says 1080 is licenced for possum rat and stoat control, but the deliberate targeting of deer is illegal.