Public consultation is open until 5 January 2026 on proposed deer management options in relation to permits and licences.
The Tasmanian Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan 2022-2027 (the Deer Plan) requires that a review of the effectiveness of policies and management tools outlined in the Plan be completed by the Department each year.
As part of this review, a 2025 Deer Policy Review Discussion Paper has been developed with a focus on two key areas:
Finalise work required to streamline Zone 1 permits under the Deer Management Plan.
Make Zone 3 a complete eradication zone.
This Discussion Paper aims to fulfil actions set out in the Deer Plan and further reduce administration for landholders and hunters. It will also support a broader commitment to reduce red tape, streamline regulation, improve efficiency, and ensure that natural resource management policies deliver balanced and practical outcomes.
The 2025 Review will not change the management objectives for the three current deer management zones under the Deer Plan. Deer Management Zone 1 will continue to effectively manage the impacts of wild fallow deer whilst maintaining a traditional and sustainable hunting resource. Zone 2 continues to be the buffer zone. The aim of Zone 3 is to completely eradicate deer.
Have your say
Submissions are invited on a Discussion Paper to help inform the development of improved deer management policies.
2025 Deer Policy Review Discussion Paper (PDF 642Kb) - Re-issued on 20 November 2025 to address a minor language matter and to give clearer understanding of the intent of permits issued in Zone 1.
Submissions must be received by 5:00pm (AEDT) on 5 January 2026.
Feedback can be submitted via the online response form.
About your submission
Privacy and copyright information
Other than indicated below, submissions will be treated as public information. Your feedback may be published in full or included in a published summary report of submissions.
Important information to note
In the absence of a clear indication that a submission is intended to be treated as confidential (or parts of the submission), the submission will be treated as public.
If you would like your submission treated as confidential, whether in whole or in part, please indicate this in writing at the time of making your submission that you want to remain confidential and the reasons why. In this case, your submission will not be published, to the extent of your request.
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If your submission includes information that could enable the identification of other individuals then either all or parts of the submission will not be published.
The Right to Information Act 2009 and confidentiality
Information provided to the Government may be provided to an applicant under the provisions of the Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI).
If you have indicated that you wish all or part of your submission to be treated as confidential, your statement detailing the reasons may be taken into account in determining whether or not to release the information in the event of an RTI application for assessed disclosure. You may also be contacted to provide any further comment.