Peri-urban Deer Management

​​​​​In 2022 a Tasmanian Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan was released. It detailed how to manage the species (Dama Dama) for the five years from 2022 to 2027.

The plan was a response to: 

• rapidly growing deer numbers

• their expanding range

• rising public concern ​ 

A main objective​ of the Tasmanian Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan is to explore how to control deer in peri-urban areas. ​​​ 

Issues caused by deer in a p​eri-urban setting

Deer in and around peri-urban areas pose significant risks to the public: 

• Deer can cause property damage, injury, and potentially death via car accidents and collision avoidance. 

• They damage gardens, parks, remnant bush, and replanting efforts.

• Peri-urban deer can become habituated to people and dogs. This can lead to attacks on pets and children particularly during the mating season.
  

• Once established, deer in peri-urban areas are very difficult and expensive to control.

• In peri-urban areas, deer can reach high densities. This is because they have lots of food and are hard to cull in these areas. 
  

• Deer in peri-urban areas can encourage illegal hunting. People may access private land unlawfully and/or shoot across it. They may also use high-powered firearms close to peoples homes.​

• Standard fencing is ineffective as an exclusion method for deer. It is not feasible to fence deer away from roads, parks, gardens, vineyards, or orchards.​​

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Peri-Urban Deer Control Project​

The Peri-Urban Deer Control Project aims to develop a range of options for the safe and effective control of deer in peri-urban areas. It will work with local government and communities to do this.

• The project will focus on safe, effective ground control methods. These include shooting, trapping, and sedation techniques to remove animals.

• Bruny Island, Clarence Municipality and the Bicheno region are currently focus ares. As more resources become available the project intends to extend its operations in partnerships with local communities.

• Deer control operations in peri-urban areas are resource-intensive. They need local input to happen. A collaborative management approach aims to work with stakeholders to achieve effective control. 

• ​All control operations will be humane. They will follow approved guidelines and safety procedures.  
  

This project receives funding from both the Tasmanian and Australian Governments. ​​

 DeerScan Brochure (PDF 2Mb)​

How to Report Deer Sightings

Deer sigtings and the problems they are causing can be reported into DeerScan.

Deerscan is a website for landholders and the community to report deer sightings and problems.

What happens if you nothing?

​The graph and image below demonstrate the projected population growth if deer numbers are not managed.

Projected deer population growth graph

Deer projected population growth graphic

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2026-2027 Tasmanian State Budget Announcement

In the Tasmanian State Budget handed down on 21 May, $840,000 was announced for the Peri-Urban Deer Program.

More ​information on how these funds will be allocated will come in the following weeks.​