And still the stories of miscommunication, grief, authority inaction and skulduggery continue to flow into the newspaper office.

At first it appeared a pretty simple story about illegal shooters running a bit wild, with a horse murdered, a prize deer stolen, and two cows killed in cold blood.

We asked the Department of Primary Industries Game Licensing Unit for clarification about the role of officers on the ground, and we shared harrowing stories about property trespass and injured animals left to die. 

The majestic deer was promoted by some locals as a viable and romantic “game” animal worthy of better forest management, and a call was made for stricter policing to track down “inethical hunters”.

Then Kiah land owners spoke up, reminding the community of the alleged deer plague that now exists, resulting in endless struggle for primary industry producers trying to keep their farms and stocks viable as deer rampage through.

They said looser, not tighter, gun regulations were needed. And they called for the status of deer to be changed to “feral” enabling bigger culls. 

The next contentious issue to raise its head was the use of the meat itself.

Our native eastern grey kangaroo joins the introduced deer as having reached alleged plague proportions.

But it’s understood that even during an official cull the animal must be simply tagged and left where felled.

Ethical hunters engaged for such culls are asking why? 

As meat prices soar, and the hungry and homeless increase, is it right to leave good food to rot?

And finally, is it time to reconsider the shameful fur coat? 

As foxes and rabbits continue to gobble hens and veggie patches across the country, some Eden residents are risking conversation about the lucrative clothing trade. 

Although issues of ethics and animal cruelty sit hot in our hearts, would a revival of the fur trade give shooters a real incentive to pay their licence fees, do their work cleanly, and perhaps help the natural environment to boot?