Red tape slashed for deer hunters

Image: Zac Bartels

Deer hunting restrictions have been significantly loosened by the State Government in a bid to reduce burgeoning deer numbers.

Red tape is being slashed to reduce the number of wild fallow deer across the state following feedback received during consultation on the Tasmanian Deer Management Policy Review.

Primary Industries minister Gavin Pearce said it was clear more needed to be done.

“Our farmers, hunters and landowners have told us action needs to be taken now, and we’ve heard them loud and clear,” Minister Pearce said.

“The data speaks for itself; despite actions taken to date, deer numbers are going up.

“Recognising there’s no silver bullet, we’re pulling many of the levers in front of us to get this sorted.

All landowners statewide - regardless of zone - will now only need one Permit to cull male and female deer, 365 days a year. Quotas and tagging requirements will only be required in Zone 1 for male deer.  

The Permit can be for either managing the economic impacts of deer or for protecting natural values and will be valid for 5 years. Other current restrictions on taking male deer and their antlers have also been removed.

Ten new blocks of land are being unlocked, the total number of deer hunting areas on reserves and crown land now covers 61,608 hectares.

The labelling of deer parts when removing them from a property will no longer be required.

Restrictions will also be eased to provide more commercial opportunities for harvesting deer.
“This is a significant red-tape reduction,” Mr Pearce said.

“Recreational hunter licence holders will now have more opportunities to do what they love, with changes to tag limits during the five-week male season in Zone 1.

“Hunters will now be able to take two stags instead of one, and the eight-month antlerless deer season remains.

“For recreational hunters in Zones 2 and 3, there will now be a year-long open season on all male and female deer, with no bag limits or tagging requirements.

For hunting on reserves and crown land, hunters will use a new self‑service booking system, which will soon come online and allow hunters to book a time and location.

“Following the trial of commercial wild-shot deer, we will be removing the current restrictions to provide more commercial opportunities for harvesting deer,” Mr Pearce said.

“The overwhelming majority of the 293 public submissions received on the recent trial supported the continued use of wild shot deer for human consumption, value added products, and for pet food.

“Commercialisation creates another market for using deer as a resource, contributing to agricultural productivity, environmental outcomes, and public safety, while addressing strong community expectations that carcasses should not be wasted.

“Finally, we’ll be bringing forward the next Tasmanian Deer Management Plan a year earlier than planned, recognising the need for more action to be taken, sooner.

“As part of the development of the next Management Plan, it is our intention to consult on the status of deer and a range of other measures to get deer back to a sustainable footing.”

TasFarmers has welcomed the Government's decision to reduce red tape but said without further changes there would not be enough downward pressure on deer populations to satisfy the state's farming sector.

TasFarmers has welcomed the Government's decision to reduce red tape but said without further changes there would not be enough downward pressure on deer populations to satisfy the state's farming sector.

TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calman said the message from farmers during consultation was clear - deer numbers are growing, impacts are increasing and current settings are making it too difficult for landholders to deal with the issue.

"For farmers, simplifying permits and allowing year-round control measures will make it easier for landholders to respond to the economic and environmental impacts deer are having across the state," Mr Calman said.

TasFarmers has consistently called for fewer permits and less red tape, with a stronger focus on reducing deer numbers rather than managing a growing population.

The peakbody has also advocated for changes to the areas where deer can be controlled and welcomed the decision to expand removal opportunities in Zones Two and Three. Mr Calman said given farmers are targeting eradication in these zones however, the continued requirement for landholders to hold a permit is unnecessary and represents ongoing red tape.

"We have argued for practical reforms that help landholders remove deer from the landscape, and allowing greater access to control deer in Zones Two and Three is a meaningful step forward," Mr Calman said.

“Landholders in Zone One will however be disappointed that male deer cannot be removed from the landscape year-ound, and that tagging limits will continue, this is despite majority feedback during consultation from interests that tags should cease. 

"Similarly, it is disappointing that changes to allow the removal of female deer year-round in Zones 2 and 3 do not extend to Zone 1.

“During the consultation, the majority of respondents further supported the use of thermal technology and spotlighting when hunting to remove deer and it is disappointing that this opportunity to help producers reduce deer numbers has not been supported,” Mr Calman said.
While the reforms are welcome, Mr Calman said success would ultimately be measured by whether deer numbers begin to decline.

"The focus must remain on outcomes. Long term, we want to see fewer deer causing damage to farms, native vegetation and public infrastructure, with the ultimate goal of removing this invasive species from Tasmania's natural landscape."

"The bringing forward of the next Deer Management Plan Review by a year needs to consider the ongoing barriers to deer population control and the ongoing status of deer as partially protected," Mr Calman said.

More information on the changes is available on the NRE website.