The Department of Conservation wants to attract more recreational deer hunters to the Caples Valley in Otago by allowing helicopters to fly them in.
The idea is part of a draft management strategy on which the department is asking the public to comment.
Otago area manager Greg Lind said the deer are damaging vegetation in the valley that is essential for native species such as the mohua (yellowhead bird).
Helicopter flights would make it easier to reach remote areas where the number of deer is increasing.
Mr Lind said walking into the upper Caples Valley can take eight hours, which does not give people enough time to hunt during a long weekend.
He said restrictions would be placed on the helicopter flights.
