Hunters and farmers across Victoria on the Reddit group ‘Hunters Australia’ say the Government has blown the deer problem out of proportion.
They say although deer should continue to be managed, there are many other animals causing the same, if not more, damage.
“I’ve seen plenty of so called ‘deer damage’ which has actually been caused by native wildlife,” a Northern Victorian farmer says.
In Victoria it is illegal under the Wildlife Act 1975 to destroy or disturb any native flora or fauna without permission from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
Hunters and farmers say deer populations had not increased as significantly as thought to be, but had become more apparent due to drought, forcing deer into less common areas.
“Deer herds in Gippsland will shred paddocks set aside for regrowth, admittedly no more than kangaroos,” a Gippsland farmer says.
In Victoria deer are not protected species on personal property and can be shot, if necessary, as long as the shooter follows the correct guidelines.
But for management outside of personal property, such as in the national parks, hunters must attain a permit from the Game Management Authority.
Hunters who wish to conduct control on native animals, specifically kangaroos, must also obtain an Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) from DEECA.
Peter Burke, who has contributed as chairperson of the Australian Deer Research Foundation and has been a hunting educator for more than 40 years, says deer management in general has become convoluted. He says there are polarising views when it comes to management.
The Invasive Species Council say deer should be eradicated, whereas the Australian Deer Association (ADA) and The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria) (SSAV) say in controlling numbers through containment and culling only when necessary the problem can be controlled.
Peter says these different views are creating a bottleneck in the system.
“It’s made up of not so like minded people,” he says.
He says the lack of funding and differentiation in stated deer population levels in Victoria is causing issues.
Peter says official estimates on deer populations vary markedly.
“It’s people throwing eggs at the wall and seeing what sticks,” Peter says.
With $18.25 million being put toward the Victorian Deer Control Program, the differing attitudes toward deer management is a concern for any taxpayer.
“Deer management needs to be science based and not emotive,” a Northern Victoria farmer says on the ‘Hunters Australia’ reddit group.
This story is part of a project exploring regional Victoria and the issues farmers are facing. See the whole collection here.
