TasFarmers Matters - Feral deer at tipping point

There has been much written over the past few years about the out-of-control rabbit populations across the state.

This feral species, first released as a recreational hunting resource, now causes many millions of dollars’ worth of damage each year to primary producers across the state.

As with the control of many feral species, there comes a tipping point where population size becomes so significant that even with increased resources, growth becomes exponential and can no longer be controlled.

Based on member feedback, we strongly believe that the current population of feral deer in the state is approaching this tipping point.

Farmers who are frustrated with the current policy settings around deer management are eagerly awaiting the release of the latest aerial survey results, which were collected in late 2024.

Based on visual feedback across the landscape, it is expected that deer numbers will have significantly increased again from the last survey in 2019.

Based on the exponential growth of the population in the state between 1985 and 2020, it is anticipated that the population may now be in excess of 150,000 animals.

This is some three times greater than the last aerial survey estimate in 2019. With this size of a population, the species is having a significant impact on our natural environment and our state’s farmers.

Assuming that a deer will eat on average twice that of a sheep, the lost productivity cost of the deer population is estimated at $87 million annually based on current lamb market prices. 

A price our state’s primary producers know is far too high to justify the interests of a relatively small group of recreational hunters.

So what can be done, before we pass the tipping point (like rabbits), of losing control of this feral species?

As a starting point, wild deer in the state need to be reclassified in our state regulations as a feral species.

Their “partially protected” status as a hunting resource is nothing short of nonsense, with there being absolutely no difference in the classification of rabbits and deer.

The argument that the species must be partially protected to ensure that permit returns can measure annually the number of animals taken is void.

Aerial surveys every three years could continue to measure the population size and inform future controls.

Declaring the species as feral will remove many of the barriers that prevent landholders from managing the biosecurity threat to their land, without burdening them with unnecessary red tape and costs.

Permits, tags, take limits, and annual returns all add costs for land managers and to date have not supported in any way the control of the feral deer population.

This is not to say in any way that the hunting community cannot support solving this problem, far from it.

However, we need to change the focus to “reducing feral deer numbers from our landscapes” instead of “managing a healthy growing deer population for recreational hunters”.

Some landholders may wish to derive additional income from allowing hunting activity on their land, and if this is their choice, we support this.

We also need to have an open mind about the ability of wild shot venison to be commercially sold.

Similarly, we need to permit the removal of feral deer from crown land.

Current restrictions in our timber production areas provide a safe haven for feral deer populations to rapidly expand in essentially a “deer national park”.

As we approach this tipping point, we need to acknowledge that what we have been doing since the 1980s simply isn’t working.

Any change that can create a vacuum for removing deer from the landscape should be embraced.