The findings from a national workshop held in Adelaide last November have now been released, which identified a need for cost-effective and socially acceptable wild deer management practices. 

The workshop heard six introduced deer species occur in the wild in Australia, with all states and territories having at least one species. 

NSW Department of Primary Industries Research Officer and lead organiser of the workshop David Forsyth said better information on wild deer impacts was required, particularly on agriculture.

“We are hearing reports of wild deer causing environmental, agricultural and social impacts, but the extent and importance of these impacts are not well understood,” Forsyth said.

“The workshop outlined key national wild deer research and innovation priorities within the four themes of impacts, management tools and systems, monitoring deer distribution and abundance, and community engagement.

“Managing the impacts of wild deer is a national problem and it is hoped that these proceedings will assist agencies with prioritising funding and resources to better understand and minimise the impacts of wild deer in Australia.”

The workshop proceedings outlined the following as significant gaps which need to be addressed:

• Most cost-effective and socially acceptable ways to monitor and manage wild deer in Australia are needed
• Further develop current and potential tools for controlling wild deer
• Better understand how recreational hunters can reduce the impacts of wild deer
• Develop better tools for monitoring the distributions and abundances of wild deer
• Understand where wild deer will spread to in the coming decades

To read the findings in full, visit the website.