Deer control concerns as the animal wreaks havoc at a farm

Jan Crosswell says she was “not happy Jan” after a wild fallow deer got into her paddocks at West Kentish and wreaked havoc, claiming it was responsible for the stillbirth of a cow calf.

She said that the deer spooked her pregnant cattle, with one panicked cow running into a barbed wire fence and sustaining injuries.

Another cow ran into a concrete fence and later delivered a dead calf.

Ms Croswell said the chaos resulted in all the electric fences on her property being disconnected and that some cattle got into a hay paddock.

“Losing a calf is a $2000 loss for us, which is a lot given we are a small holding,” she said.

“We can’t prove that it was a result of the cow being spooked by the deer and running onto a concrete post, but the trauma of that likely resulted in the dead calf.”

Ms Crosswell said she was devastated about what happened to her livestock during the incident.

“It was heartbreaking to see this mother out there with a dead calf when it should have never happened.

“I’m a little bit concerned about what happened because there are other farmers in the area.

“When they’re encroaching onto the grass, and also the fact that other cattle would be spooked by them too, that can cause a lot of problems.

“They’re not the little, cute things pulling Santa’s sleigh.”

She wanted the government to do more to control wild deer populations.

“I think they’ve got to go harder,” Ms Crosswell said.

“I’ve got a nephew who’s a registered shooter, and he’s amazed at how quickly the deer population is expanding in the Midlands and the damage that they’re doing to the farming land.”

Ms Crosswell said she believed a complete cull of wild deer was needed.

“We don’t need deer here and they’re not necessary for our economy.”

Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce said it was widely acknowledged that action was needed around deer management.

“However, there are differing views about how deer should be managed, highlighting the need for clear, evidence-based and coordinated policy settings,” Mr Pearce said.

“At its core, this review aims to streamline permits to remove red tape and make it easier for farmers, foresters and landholders to manage deer populations across the state.

“We are continuing to build on the foundation provided by the Tasmanian Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan in 2022, which highlights key areas of the plan that can be improved, offering more flexibility for landholders and recreational hunters.”