Reports that 1080 drops have killed deer in the Taihape area have horrified the SPCA.
A local family says it's found four dead deer in the bush adjoining their property after a notified Animal Health Board 1080 drop.
National chief executive Robyn Kippenberger says the deer had clearly died in agony and had thrashed themselves about.
She says they only found one dead possum, so she's questioning what was actually being targeted.
Ms Kippenberger says there's no approval to use 1080 as deer poison, so deer repellent should be added to it.
She says that's not often done because of the cost.
