TasFarmers Matters - Wild deer at tipping point

During January this year the state government will finish receiving submissions into its 2025 feral deer policy review discussion paper. 

This important discussion paper puts forward the government’s proposed response to the recent 2024 feral deer population survey. 

This survey confirmed what many primary producers had been saying for some time, which is that feral deer are not only increasing their numbers, they are also increasing their range.

 The survey also confirms that the current management controls are not effective. In fact, TasFarmers’ most recent annual members survey found that the impact of feral and browsing wildlife was their single biggest concern for the year ahead.

For the state’s primary producers, the proposed changes cannot some soon enough. The recent population survey found that the population had grown from 53,660 in 2019 to 71,655 in 2024, a rise of some 20,000 animals in just five years. This growing feral deer population has a direct impact on farmers’ bottom line, reducing pasture available for grazing. The current feral deer population has a direct farmgate value impact to the state’s producers of $41m annually. 

However, the costs for producers don’t stop there when considering the huge costs associated with infrastructure, population control, environmental damage, and in peri-urban areas, public safety.

The discussion paper put forward a range of improvements to address the current strategies failings with a focus on two areas. Firstly, to streamline Zone 1 permits, and secondly to make Zone 3 a complete eradication zone. TasFarmers has worked closely with members to develop a submission around the proposed changes. TasFarmers is supportive of the government’s proposed changes, however it has strongly advocated that several further improvements be made in 2026.

Firstly, TasFarmers has put forward that the boundary area of Zone 1 should be reduced. This would put pressure on the spread of feral deer from their traditional range, which was an observation of the most recent government aerial survey.

Secondly, within Zone 1, permit holders should not be restricted by quotas of any kind. While the current proposed changes will allow for the removal of female feral deer on a year-round basis, it will continue quotas for the number of male feral deer which can be removed and still requires that male feral deer be tagged. 

Primary producers in this zone who hold a permit for the sole reason of reducing the impact of feral deer on their farming operation should be supported to remove all feral deer present within that landscape, free of restrictive and wasteful red tape measures, such as the continued and pointless requirement to tag.

Thirdly, to support the government’s intention to eradicate feral deer from Zone 3, TasFarmers has advocated that this be able to occur without any need to hold a permit.

With fewer feral deer present in this zone, producers need to be encouraged to remove feral deer on first sighting without first having to go through the process of applying for a permit.

Finally, TasFarmers recognises the important role that recreational hunters play in helping primary producers remove feral deer from the landscape. 

It is also important however, that all tools be available to producers in the management of feral deer numbers, and for that reason, TasFarmers strongly advocates for commercial hunting to be increased, acknowledging the greater impact that harvesting this resource on a commercial sale can have on reducing total feral deer numbers.

Tasmania is quickly approaching the population tipping point for feral deer. If the management settings aren’t correct right now, we risk further population growth and spread, resulting in an uncontrollable future population. Primary producers and the state’s unique biodiverse ecosystems must be protected from this feral species impact. 

Without action, the population’s further growth will make the species as difficult to manage tomorrow as the problematic feral rabbit is today.