'No silver bullet' - deer management consultation moved forward

Consultation on the state government’s wild fallow deer management plan has been moved forward by 12 months as deer numbers continue to rise.

The first stage of consultation on the next Tasmanian Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan is now open and Primary Industries and Water Minister Gavin Pearce said it’s because farmers, hunters and landowners have told him that action needs to be taken now.

“We’ve unlocked more land, given hunters more access, slashed red tape and provided more commercial opportunities for harvesting deer - but despite actions taken to date, the data is clear; deer numbers are going up.

“By bringing the next management plan forward, we can take stronger action to get this under control.

Mr Pearce said that the first step in the process is taking a step back, looking at what has been delivered and getting feedback from the community on what the future should look like.

“Recognising there’s no silver bullet, we want to pull many of the levers in front of us to get this sorted,” he said.

“This includes consulting on the current status of deer, recognising Tasmania is the only state or territory that still gives wild fallow deer protected status on all land, including private land.

“I look forward to hearing the diverse range of views on how we can best bring deer numbers back to a sustainable footing.”

Shooters, Fishers, Farmers Party Member for Lyons Carlo Di Falco MP has welcomed the decision and called for a pragmatic approach that balances the needs of farmers, hunters and the environment. 

Mr Di Falco said the government's acknowledgement that deer numbers continue to increase highlights the importance of considering all available management options. 

“Deer are an important recreational hunting resource in Tasmania, but we also need to recognise the challenges they can present for farmers, landholders and our natural environment. 

“These things don't have to be in conflict. We can support recreational hunting while ensuring landholders have the tools they need to manage deer effectively.” 

“We shouldn't be afraid to look at what other states are doing and consider whether some of those approaches could work here. 

“We need to be pragmatic. Rather than getting caught up in debates about whether deer should be protected or treated as pests, we should be focused on what actually works on the ground.” 

Mr Di Falco said greater access to public land for recreational hunters should be a key consideration in the review. 

“We have a large community of responsible hunters who are willing and able to contribute to deer management, yet there are still significant areas of public land where opportunities remain limited,” he said.

“We should be looking at opening up more suitable public land to appropriately licensed recreational hunters, including exploring opportunities on Sustainable Timber Tasmania land. 

“Where practical, we should be making use of willing and appropriately licensed hunters before turning to costly alternatives.” 

Mr Di Falco also called for greater consideration of opportunities to donate harvested venison to Tasmanians in need. 

“If we're serious about managing deer numbers, we should also be looking at how we can make better use of the meat. 

“There is an opportunity to explore programs that allow safely harvested and appropriately processed venison to be donated to charities, community organisations and food relief services. 

“At a time when so many Tasmanian families are struggling with the cost of living, it makes sense to explore ways we can turn a management challenge into something that benefits the community. 

“We should be looking at practical options that reduce waste, support people in need and recognise the value of deer as a food resource.” 

Mr Di Falco encouraged farmers, hunters, landholders and regional communities to have their say during the consultation period. 

The consultation includes a discussion paper, online survey and opportunity to make a written submission.

Consultation is open until 5pm on Thursday, 26 November 2026.

The discussion paper, online survey and information on how to make a submission are available at https://nre.tas.gov.au/deer-plan

Stakeholders who have participated in previous deer management consultations can provide new feedback or advise that their earlier submissions remain relevant to the current review.