Information Resources

General information for deer control on private land

• National Feral Deer Action Plan – being prepared by the National Feral Deer Action Plan Working Group with representatives from agriculture, conservation, government, non-government, research, professional and volunteer shooters. The working group reports to the Minister for Agriculture, National Biosecurity Committee and the Environment and Invasives Committee. The plan aims to limit further spread of feral deer into new areas and reduce the impact of large populations of feral deer on primary production, communities and the environment. The website provides a copy of the draft plan, information on the costs of deer to landowners, impacts on ecosystems, community involvement, control methods and the latest news including new methods of control. Website: https://feraldeerplan.org.au/the-plan/
• Victorian Deer Control Strategy – developed by the Victorian Government, provides information on impacts, distribution, control methods on public and private land, legal status of deer and current challenges. Website: https://vdccn.org.au/info-resources/victorian-deer-control-strategy/
• Victorian Deer Control Community Network (VDCCN) – excellent source of information on all aspects of deer. Provides information about distribution, abundance, impacts, monitoring, management plans, strategies, population dynamics, species information, current projects, tools and methods plus the latest news in monthly updates. Website: https://vdccn.org.au/info-and-resources/
• PestSmart – is a best practice management website to assist land managers, farmers, producers, community coordinators, extension officers etc. with planning, managing and improving pest animal control programs.   Website: https://pestsmart.org.au/framework-overview/ PestSmart also manages the FeralScan platform which landowners can use to record and share the location of deer populations in DeerScan. Website: https://www.feralscan.org.au/deerscan/default.aspx
• Game Management Authority – photos, illustrations and descriptions of deer species, their distribution, habitat and behaviour deer hunting seasons and limits, deer hunting methods, laws and equipment requirements, information about commercial processing of deer and controlling problem deer on private property. Website: https://www.gma.vic.gov.au/
• Invasive Species Council – provides information on feral deer in Victoria including cultural, economic and environmental impacts, legal status and hunting information. Website: https://invasives.org.au/our-work/feral-animals/feral-deer/feral-deer-in-victoria/
• Mitta Valley Landcare Group Inc (MVLG) website includes links to VDCCN news and MVLG Annual General Meeting Deer Reports. Website: https://mittavalleylandcaregroup.com/category/deer-control-group/
• Yarra Ranges Council – Deer Management Information for Landholders providing information on deer species, habitat, damage, private land control options, control cost and effectiveness. PDF available at: https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/webdocuments/environment/environment-other/deer_management_booklet_2021.pdf
• Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – information on deer species identification (including a number of photos of bucks, hinds and juveniles), habitat and management control options. Website: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/search?collection=daff&form=simple&query=Feral+Sambar+deer&global_search_submit_button=search
• New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment – Provides information on feral deer impacts, regional pest management strategies and programs. Website: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/pest-animals-and-weeds/pest-animals/feral-deer
• Green Adelaide – a statutory Board established by the Government of South Australia which provides a deer management factsheet about managing feral deer dated November 2021 including impacts, distribution and management. Website: https://cdn.environment.sa.gov.au/greenadelaide/images/Deer-management-factsheet.pdf
• Nillumbik Shire Council – Deer Management Information for Landholders in peri-urban areas providing information sheets on:
  • Deer Identification – Species, Scats, Signs and Damage – provides information on Sambar, Red and Fallow Deer including good photos and images of deer species, scats, hair from different species of deer, prints, trails, browselines, tree rubbing and ringbarking, scrapes, preaching trees, wallows, damage to vegetation, and car collisions.
  • Deer Management Factsheet – provides information on deer species identification, harbour, deer behaviour, legal status of deer, damage by deer and management options (and general cost comparisons).
  • Monitoring deer population, assessing damage and how to use DeerScan to record your findings – provides information on deer monitoring including photos, images, text and data recording template.