Sights on wild deer

Report recommends commercial harvest

ALLOWING commercial harvesting of wild deer to tackle Tasmania’s growing feral population is one of the recommendations in a new report.

Opening up the opportunity to harvest wild deer for human and pet food is one of 13 recommendations in the Legislative Council report on wild fallow deer.

The 57 written submissions included many from landowners and one from the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association.

While some of the state’s deer farmers oppose commercial harvesting, the report found significant potential for development of the industry.

TFGA president Wayne Johnston said while establishing commercial harvesting was a good concept, the practicalities were challenging.

“Meat-wise, it sounds like a good idea to make more use of it, but it has to be done under the meat hygiene act and that’s where it gets difficult,” he said.

“I know they do it in other places like Europe ... but regulations at the moment mean it’s just not all that practical.”

Deer are partially protected and managed through a permit system.

The report found the management of wild deer and the legislation were primarily focused on supporting recreational hunting rather than on the impact on commercial activities and the environment.

The report says, traditionally, recreational hunting has been given greater weight over the interests of landowners and other stakeholders and deer hunting is a recognised cultural activity in Tasmania.

Many of the farmers’ submissions highlighted the costs of high deer numbers, including crop losses, fence damage and the environmental impact.

The report said one concern was the lack of accurate data around the wild population.

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment said the deer population was much higher than the 30,000 it had previously estimated, with the number somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000.

The report recommends the State Government run an investigation to get a more accurate picture of the population and how far it has spread.

It also suggests the Government investigate whether the management system is appropriate for the rising numbers.

Recommendations include a higher bag limit for recreational hunters and a longer season and extending the cropprotection permit period for farmers wanting to cull deer from one year to five years.

Mr Johnston said it was important any changes to legislation allowed farmers to manage deer as needed.

He hoped the Government would consider all recommendations but stakeholders needed to be heard before any changes.

For more details go to www.parliament.tas.gov.au.