Victorian Deer Control Strategy

The Victorian Deer Control Strategy is our plan to reduce the impact deer have across Victoria.

It outlines a new approach to deer management and has three key goals:

The impacts of deer on key environmental, agricultural and Aboriginal cultural heritage values and public safety are reduced.
Deer control is more effective through partnerships and community collaboration.
Awareness, understanding and capacity to control deer are increased.

To deliver the Strategy, the Victorian Government will work in partnership with:

Traditional Owners
public and private land managers
conservation and community groups
Landcare
the agricultural sector
water and catchment management authorities
Local Government
the Commonwealth Government
other states and territories
the commercial deer harvest industry
hunting organisations and hunters
community members.

The Strategy has been prepared by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR).

It is a key action under the Victorian Government’s Sustainable Hunting Action Plan 2016 – 2020 and is recognised in the Protecting Victoria’s Environment - Biodiversity 2037 Implementation Framework.

Implementation Plan

Goals, Actions and Deliverables

Goal 1: The impacts of deer on key environmental, agricultural, and Aboriginal cultural heritage values and public safety are reduced.

Actions

1.1 Prevent the establishment of new deer species and populations in Victoria

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
1.1.1 Review the classification of deer species not established in the wild in Victoria (e.g. Chital, Rusa, Wapiti, Sika and any hybrids) and investigate their transition to pest animals under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.	DJPR	DELWP Parks Victoria	July 2021	Dec 2022
1.1.2 Review the current regulatory framework that applies to the keeping and farming of all deer species in Victoria to ensure that risks relating to their escape and establishment are being effectively managed. The impact of any necessary changes on deer farmers and keepers will be considered as part of this review.	DJPR	DELWP Parks Victoria	July 2021	Dec 2022
1.1.3 Develop and publish education material to reinforce that the release and translocation of deer are illegal.	DELWP	Game Management Authority (GMA) Hunting organisations	Oct 2021	Dec 2021

1.2 Implement the Deer Management Framework to guide Victorian Government and partner investment in deer control

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
1.2.1 Implement the Deer Management Framework, including the establishment of regional deer management partnership groups, deer advisory committee and development of Regional Plans.	DELWP	Parks Victoria DJPR Local Government GMA Traditional Owners Water authorities VicRoads Regional Roads Vic Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) Conservation and community groups Hunting organisations Industry Farmers Research institutions Deer Advisory Committee	Apr 2021	Ongoing
1.2.2 Communicate and promote the use of regional plans.	DELWP	Parks Victoria Local Government Industry.	After completion of plans – starting in 2021	Ongoing
1.2.3 Use the Regional Plans to guide investment in deer control and other management measures.	DELWP Parks Victoria	Local Government Traditional Owners CMAs Community groups DJPR Industry	2021	Ongoing and as required once regional plans developed

1.3 Undertake strategic deer control

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
1.3.1 Invest in and undertake deer control and management activities as guided by the regional plans.	DELWP	Parks Victoria Water authorities Local Government Traditional Owners CMAs community groups hunting organisations industry GMA Industry PrimeSafe	2021	Ongoing

1.4 Remove regulatory barriers to enable effective deer control

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
1.4.1 Enable public land managers to control deer as required without the need to obtain authorisation under the Wildlife Act.	DELWP	Parks Victoria DJPR GMA Melbourne Water Local Government	Apr 2021	February 2022

1.5 Facilitate development of a commercial deer harvest industry to reduce deer densities

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
1.5.1 Utilise wild deer carcasses for economic benefit. Work with commercial entities to: - facilitate commercial utilisation of wild deer from private and public land to reduce deer densities - improve utilisation of wild-harvested carcasses from deer management programs, including pilot projects.	Public land managers	DELWP Primesafe DJPR	Ongoing	Ongoing

Deliverable

Lead agency

Partners

Start date

Indicative complete date

1.5.1 Utilise wild deer carcasses for economic benefit. Work with commercial entities to:

- facilitate commercial utilisation of wild deer from private and public land to reduce deer densities

- improve utilisation of wild-harvested carcasses from deer management programs, including pilot projects.

Public land managers

DELWP
Primesafe
DJPR

Ongoing

1.6 Reduce public safety risks associated with deer

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
1.6.1 Identify hot spots for deer/vehicle accidents through the establishment of a collision register.	DELWP	Local Government Vic Roads Community Insurance companies	Jan 2022	Dec 2022
1.6.2 In consultation with local government and Victoria Police, develop peri-urban/public place deer management guidelines for inclusion in the Standard Operating Procedure for the control of deer outlined in Goal 3.	DJPR	Parks Victoria GMA Local Government Victoria Police DELWP	Jul 2021	Dec 2022

Goal 2: Enhance deer management through partnerships and community collaboration

Actions

2.1 Provide leadership and coordination through strategic partnerships

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
2.1.1 Coordinate an annual forum for land managers and other key stakeholders involved in Regional Plans to share information regarding deer behaviour, distribution, abundance, the effectiveness of control programs, impacts and management approaches to inform planning and control programs.	DELWP	DJPR Arthur Rylah Institute Parks Victoria Local Government Community groups GMA CMAs	Annually	Annual (ongoing)

2.2 Enhance traditional owner involvement in deer management

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
2.2.1 Engage with Traditional Owner groups to: - ensure the protection of Aboriginal cultural and natural heritage values are considered in the determination of priority locations for deer control in the development of regional plans. determine Aboriginal cultural and natural heritage values requiring protection from the impacts of deer	DELWP Traditional Owner groups	Public land managers	As part of Regional Plan development	Ongoing
2.2.2 Engage Traditional Owners in strategic deer management, including assessment, monitoring, planning and management.	Public land managers DELWP Traditional Owner groups	DJPR GMA	As part of Regional Plan development and implementation	Ongoing

2.3 Encourage hunters and commercial harvesters to contribute to strategic and cost-effective deer management

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
2.3.1 Provide advice to hunters on how they can effectively contribute to reducing deer densities.	DELWP Parks Victoria Hunting organisations	GMA	Through regional planning, DELWP website June 2021 and as opportunities arise.	Ongoing
2.3.2 Provide advice to private and public land managers on the options available to them to control deer on their land, including cost-effective options such as engaging commercial deer harvesters or farm assistance programs run by hunting organisations. (this action is embedded within 3.3.1)	DELWP	DJPR MA Industry Hunting organisation	2022	Dec 2022
2.3.3 Support opportunities to increase the involvement of recreational hunters in control programs on public land.	Public land managers	DELWP Parks Victoria GMA DJPR Hunting organisation	Ongoing and as part of regional plan delivery	Ongoing

2.4 Ensure a consistent and collaborative approach across state borders

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
2.4.1 Work with NSW and SA to ensure a consistent, landscape approach to deer management is adopted across borders.	DELWP Parks Victoria	Public land managers Plantation managers Local Government DJPR	As part of regional plan development	Ongoing

Goal 3: Increase awareness, understanding and capacity to manage deer

Actions

3.1 Improve knowledge of current deer distribution

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
3.1.1 Undertake a deer distribution and abundance survey in Victoria on all present species.	DELWP	Arthur Rylah Institute GMA Parks Victoria	2024	Dec 2024

3.2 Enhance knowledge and best practice management on deer

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
3.2.1 Initiate and support research opportunities that progress implementation of the strategy. Priority research themes include the establishment of deer density targets to protect key assets, further information on deer distribution and abundance, management efficacy, humane control measures, monitoring and disease risk and cost. Refer to Appendix E in Victorian Deer Control Strategy for a list of current research needs.	DELWP	Research institutions GMA DJPR	As opportunity presents; as part of regional plan development. Deer control program	As opportunity presents; as part of regional plan development. Deer control program
3.2.2 Through research and trials, improve the efficiency of existing deer management and investigate new management or control methods ensuring consideration of animal welfare impacts.	DELWP GMA DJPR Public land managers	Research institutions	As opportunity presents; as part of regional plan development. Deer control program	As opportunity presents; as part of regional plan development Deer control program
3.2.3 Quantify the environmental, social and economic impacts of deer in Victoria	DELWP	Research institutions Land managers Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences	As opportunity presents	As opportunity presents
3.2.4 Develop a Standard Operating Procedure and Code of Practice for the control of deer to assist land managers.	DJPR	Parks Victoria GMA DELWP Other jurisdictions Hunting organisations Local Government Victoria Police Private land managers industry	Jul 2021	Dec 2022
3.2.5 Encourage the community to contribute to improving our knowledge of deer by: - reporting deer sightings - reporting car accidents and other public safety issues via the reporting tool discussed under Goal 1. - being involved in community forums and sessions for informing the Deer Management Framework.	DELWP Local Government Parks Victoria	CMAs VicRoads Victoria Police GMA DJPR Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (PestSmart) Victorian Deer Control Community Network.	2021	Ongoing

3.3 Increase awareness of the legal framework for deer control and management options

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
3.3.1 Develop a deer management information pack, for all stakeholders, explaining: - why deer management is necessary (deer impacts) - the legislative framework for deer management (including landowner or manager legal requirements and animal welfare requirements) in plain English - options and opportunities for managing deer - best practice standards and codes of practice for the humane destruction of deer.	DELWP	DJPR hunting organisation GMA Parks Victoria Local Government CMAs.	2022	Jun 2022

Deliverable

Lead agency

Partners

Start date

Indicative complete date

3.3.1 Develop a deer management information pack, for all stakeholders, explaining:

- why deer management is necessary (deer impacts)

- the legislative framework for deer management (including landowner or

manager legal requirements and animal welfare requirements) in plain English

- options and opportunities for managing deer

- best practice standards and codes of practice for the humane destruction of deer.

DELWP

DJPR hunting organisation GMA Parks Victoria Local Government CMAs.

2022

Jun 2022

3.4 Partner with other jurisdictions to share knowledge, co-invest in research and build capacity

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
3.4.1 Work with NSW and SA to ensure a consistent, landscape approach to deer management is adopted across borders.	DELWP Parks Victoria DJPR Arthur Rylah Institute GMA	National Deer Coordinator	Ongoing	Ongoing

3.5 Ensure monitoring and evaluation outcomes continue to inform management

Deliverable	Lead agency	Partners	Start date	Indicative complete date
3.5.1 Develop and implement a Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement Framework for deer management effectiveness, value and success.	DELWP	Parks Victoria Arthur Rylah Institute	Apr 2021	Mar 2022

Strategy FAQ's

What is the Victorian Deer Control Strategy?

The Victorian Deer Control Strategy is a coordinated approach to reducing deer numbers. It is Victoria’s plan to reduce the impact of deer on the environment, agriculture, Aboriginal cultural heritage and public safety.

Why was the Victorian Deer Control Strategy developed?

The Victorian Government developed the Strategy to address the impact of deer across Victoria. Deer populations have risen quickly and are spreading to new areas. This has a big impact on biodiversity, water quality, public safety, agricultural assets and Aboriginal cultural heritage values.

It helps deliver on Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037 and the Sustainable Hunting Action Plan 2016–2020.

What will the Victorian Deer Control Strategy do?

The Strategy coordinates and sets priorities to get the best result in the control of wild deer.

The Strategy seeks to:

reduce the impact of deer on key environmental, agricultural and Aboriginal cultural heritage values and public safety
make deer control more effective through partnerships and community collaboration
increase awareness and understanding of deer control build Victoria’s deer control capacity.

How is the Victorian Deer Control Strategy different to the draft Deer Management Strategy?

After feedback from the public, the Strategy now provides more focus on reducing the impacts of wild deer.

It earlier proposed deer management zones. Feedback on zoning said this approach was confusing and it was unclear how the zones would work. This was especially so for the proposed Resource Management Zone.

The final Strategy now has a Deer Control Framework that aligns with Victoria’s Invasive Plants and Animals Policy Framework.

What does the Deer Control Framework aim to achieve?

The Deer Control Framework will set deer control priorities that offer the best potential return on investment and the best outcomes for biodiversity and other values. Its objectives are to:

prevent new deer species from becoming established in Victoria
remove isolated deer populations
limit the spread of deer to new areas protect high priority environmental, agricultural and Aboriginal cultural heritage values
preserve public safety

What are Regional Deer Control Plans?

Regional Deer Control Plans will set priority locations for deer control or other management measures. This will address the damage deer cause in a defined part of the state.

The Victorian Government will develop these plans with:

Traditional Owners
local councils
the community

What are Regional Deer Control Partnership Groups?

Regional Deer Control Partnership Groups will help develop and implement the regional deer control plans.

These will include local stakeholders involved in managing deer impacts, such as:

land managers
local government
Traditional Owners
conservation
industry and community groups

DELWP will lead the development of the Regional Plans.

Does the Victorian Deer Control Strategy declare deer as a pest?

The Strategy does not propose to declare all deer species as pest animals

Established species of deer (Sambar, Fallow, Red and Hog) will remain classified as game under the Wildlife Act 1975.

But that doesn’t mean they cannot be controlled if they are causing damage.

This is consistent with the draft Deer Management Strategy

These four deer species are already established in the wild in Victoria

They cannot be eradicated using current control methods

Chital, Rusa, Wapiti and Sika are the deer species not present or established in the wild in Victoria

The Strategy proposes to review their classification and investigate their transition to pest animals under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.

Why is there less focus on recreational hunting?

Feedback on the draft Strategy showed growing community concern about the impacts of deer.

More emphasis on managing these impacts and less on deer as a hunting resource was the most common objective the public wanted.

Why has ‘Goal 4 Reduce illegal deer hunting’ in the draft Deer Management Strategy not been included in the final strategy?

The Game Management Authority and Victoria Police are addressing Issues with illegal hunting.

The Victorian Government will continue promoting legal and responsible hunting.

When will deer control under the Strategy begin and is there funding for it?

The Victorian Government announced in the 2020-21 State Budget an $18.25 million investment over 4 years and $4.4 million per year ongoing on deer control.

This funding will be used to develop and deliver Regional Deer Control Plans under the Victorian Deer Control Strategy.

This will reduce the impacts of wild deer and create jobs across Victoria for deer controllers and associated roles.

DELWP is leading the development of the plans with Regional Deer Partnership Groups.

These groups will comprise local stakeholders involved in managing deer impacts and may include:

land managers
local governments
Traditional Owners, and

conservation, industry and community groups.

The first Regional Deer Control Plan developed under the Strategy during 2021/22 is the Peri-urban Melbourne Deer Control Plan.

Lessons from the Peri-Urban Deer Control Plan will help develop other regional deer control plans.

An Eastern Victoria Regional Deer Control Plan and a Western Deer Control Plan will be completed in 2022/23.

Delivery of key actions identified in the Peri-Urban Deer Control Plan will commence on-ground in 2022. While the development of the East and West plans is underway, further immediate deer control will take place in key locations across Victoria, creating jobs and delivering urgent action on the ground.

How does the Strategy affect deer farmers and pet owners?

Under the Strategy, there will be a review of existing regulations that apply to keeping and farming deer in Victoria.

This will consider how well the risk of deer escaping from farms and establishing in the wild is being managed.

Some deer species that are farmed or kept as pets are not established in the wild in Victoria but are in other states. This includes Sika, Rusa, Chital, Wapiti deer and their hybrids.

The current game classification of these species will be reviewed under the Strategy. This will determine if they are likely to establish populations in the wild and what impact that could have on the environment and other values.

As a result of these reviews, one or more of these species may be declared pest animals under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. It would mean that farming or keeping these animals may require a permit in future or may be prohibited.

We will consult affected groups before any changes are made to deer farming regulations. We will consider impacts on these sectors as part of the review.

Who is responsible for controlling/managing the impacts of wild deer?

Wild deer control is a shared responsibility between:

all levels of government
Traditional Owners
conservation and community groups
the farming sector

Landcare
water and catchment management authorities
the commercial deer industry
hunting organisations and hunters, and
community members.

Who will implement the Strategy?

The Victorian Government (mainly DELWP) will coordinate the Strategy’s rollout. However, partners and community groups are critical to its successful implementation.