Feral deer

Feral deer are an introduced species and causing widespread damage to our environment, local farms and backyards, as well as serious traffic risks.

Feral deer can be elusive and hard to manage. Report sightings of feral deer in your area through the Feral Scan App to help us manage feral deer and their impact on the environment: https://www.feralscan.org.au/deerscan

Trail cameras are one of the best tools we have at hand to understand local deer populations, their movements and your control options.

Managing a transient pest species like deer needs collaboration and support from the community.

We have developed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding best practice management of feral deer populations in the region.

These have been developed in response to increased sightings on public and private property, and reports of damage to flora.

The information contained within these FAQs seeks to guide landowners, residents and the general public with an understanding of how to report deer sightings, as well as provide guidance about what roles landowners and government agencies have in managing and controlling the deer population, locally.

Feral deer management requires a multi-agency approach and there are a number of considerations that need to be undertaken when controlling and managing the population, in line with the Biosecurity Act.

Further information can be obtained by visiting the NSW Department of Primary Industries Feral Deer website: Feral Deer - Local Land Services.

• What are you doing about deer?
  In the Port Macquarie Hastings area, there is a coordinated effort being undertaken to control feral deer in locations specified by and in accordance with the Hastings Feral Deer Management Plan And the North Coast Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plan 2024–2028 (RSPAMP).

• Who do I talk to about feral deer?
  North Coast Local Land Services have specialised Biosecurity Officers who can provide information to landholders on the requirements and control options for feral deer. Contact 1300 795 299 to talk to your closest team member or email admin.northcoast@lls.nsw.gov.au

• How do you control them?
  Deer are controlled using approved techniques such as trapping and shooting. The available options are best discussed with your local North Coast Local Land Services Biosecurity Officer so they can advise on the best options for your techniques for feral deer refer to Pest Smart Website for the Standard Operating Procedure for the ground shooting of feral deer. https://pestsmart.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/12/DEE001-SOP.pdf

  For the legal requirements for use of firearms refer to the NSW Police Firearms Registry: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/licences

  Refer to the DPI Game Licencing Unit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hunting for information about recreational hunting on public lands. 

• Why aren't you doing anything about it?
  The various stakeholders and land managers have recently reviewed the previous management plan and associated control activities during the last year. A revised comprehensive management plan has now been finalised for control of feral deer. Stakeholders, including Port Macquarie Hastings Council and North Coast Local Land Services, National Parks and Wildlife Services are actively managing feral deer as part of that plan.

• What is wrong with having feral deer around?
  Feral deer have high impacts on a range of local environments in which they reside, that can include residential and rural residential areas, in crops on agricultural lands, bushland reserves and forested land in either national parks or state forests and council or crown lands impacting biodiversity and spread weed material. They also represent a considerable hazard on roads.

• Where or how should I report feral deer?
  Yes, all sightings of feral deer should be reported. The best way to report feral deer sightings is through the Feral Scan mobile App or website ( https://www.feralscan.org.au/ ) which is available from the Apple Store or via Google play. For those with no access to electronic technology, you can call North Coast Local Land Services on 1300 795 299 and ask to speak to a Senior Biosecurity Officer.

  It is important for people who contribute information to understand that the data reported is not publicly available. Where mapping identifies feral deer reports, the Feral Scan platform does not allow the identify or details of property or reporter information linked to the sighting to be obtained. The scale of the mapping is large and is used by Local Land Services Biosecurity Staff and DPI Invasive Species Biosecurity agency staff to assess and investigate accordingly.  

• Who is responsible for managing feral deer?
  All land holders are responsible for controlling feral deer under the Biosecurity Act 2015.

• Should I report feral deer?
  Every person who sees a feral deer or controls a feral deer should report this information on Feral Scan. This information will assist land managers to determine the extent and distribution of feral deer in their local areas. 

• Can I kill them?
  Feral deer are not a protected species in NSW and are managed as feral animals. Any method of control must involve humane euthanasia. This means that the person responsible must adhere to animal welfare requirements when destroying any pest animal species.
  
  For more information about humane control techniques for feral deer refer to Pest Smart Website for the Standard Operating Procedure for the ground shooting of feral deer: https://pestsmart.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/12/DEE001-SOP.pdf
  
  For the legal requirements for use of firearms refer to the NSW Police Firearms Registry - https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/licences
  
  Refer to the DPI Game Licencing Unit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hunting for information about recreational hunting on public lands. 

• Are they wild or feral?
  A legislative change occurred on the 6 September 2019 where deer are no longer listed as a game animal under the Game and Feral Animal Control Act. As such deer across NSW, are now referred to and managed as feral animals.

• Do you have to kill them?
  Feral deer are a public health and safety risk due to their presence and behaviours in urban and peri-urban environments, particularly as traffic hazards and when they demonstrate aggressive behaviour during breeding season. They have agricultural and environmental impacts which result in damage and adverse impacts to crops and native plants and animals. Rehoming and/or relocating them are not an option. 

• Where do the dead animals go?
  It is important that deceased animals euthanised during control programs are not left in locations to attract other pest animals like wild dogs and foxes. Currently, most of the controlled feral deer are provided to Billabong Zoo in Port Macquarie for their feeding programs. 

  When animals have been destroyed as part of control programs, they are transported to an appropriate waste disposal facility or off-site burial location, subject to site access and associated conditions. 

• Where do they come from?
  There are three main sources of feral deer populations in NSW.

  1. Escapes from deer farms.
   2. Deliberate releases for hunting.
  3. Natural expansion from well-established populations.
  
  It is important to remember that moving feral deer for release into the wild is against the law. Unfortunately, feral deer occur across about 22% of NSW and are rapidly expanding into new areas.
  
  You can refer to the current maps of distribution at the DPI website: More information is available on https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1266880/feral-deer-all-species-distribution-and-abundance-2020.pdf, https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hunting, on 02 63637650 or via email at game.licensing@dpi.nsw.gov.au

  Recreational hunting is not permitted on NPWS or Council managed parks and reserves in the Port Macquarie Hastings area. 

• How do I stop them eating my garden?
  The best way to prevent feral deer from eating plants from your garden is to fence the area and restrict their access. Also consider applying a water soluble ‘bittering agent’ to foliage of plants to deter browsing.

• Will they hurt me?
  Male feral deer can be particularly aggressive during breeding season (which varies between species). They are also referred to as a ‘flight’ animal and can quickly react to situations and catch people off guard. 

• Do they spread disease?
  Yes, feral deer may spread disease. The diseases may include Q fever, leptospirosis, salmonellosis and giardiasis for example. It is important when handling dead animals that Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) like gloves are worn to minimise the risk of potential disease. 

• Why can't we keep them for food?
  The law in NSW requires that a person harvesting game animals intended for saleable human consumption must be licenced with the NSW Food Authority.

  For further information, contact the NSW Food Authority on 1300 552 406.

  It is legal for landholders and hunters to harvest and retain feral deer carcass to eat for their own consumption (but not sell).  

• What's my biosecurity obligation?
  Landholders have a biosecurity duty to take action where populations of feral deer are on their land. If deer are a problem on your land and to find out how you can be involved in feral deer management, contact North Coast Local Land Services on 1300 795 299. 

• Why are they roaming free?
  Feral deer are extremely adaptable and survive well without major predators. Feral deer can feed on most vegetation so find our local environment very suitable. They have been known to escape from farming enterprises and in some cases, there have been deliberate introductions by direct release.  These are now wild animals, living in natural and built environments.  A coordinated approach to control the feral deer is underway with all the relevant stakeholders involved in the Hastings Feral Deer Working Group by delivering the actions identified in the Hastings Feral Deer Management Plan.  

• Can I hunt them?
  Yes, only with the express written permission of the landholder and appropriate approvals and licenses.
  

• Where can I hunt them?
  On some areas of public land, the hunting of deer is managed by the Game Licencing Unit within the Department of Primary Industries. More information about the licences required to hunt on public lands can be found at https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hunting or on 02 63637650 or email game.licensing@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

  Recreational hunting is not permitted on NPWS or Council managed parks and reserves in the Port Macquarie Hastings area. 

• Can I now hunt deer on private land without any licences or documents?
  While the need for a game hunting licence has been removed, you must always have written permission from the landholder or manager before you hunt.

  If you intend to use firearms, you must also hold the appropriate current firearms licence issued by a state or territory authority.

  For the legal requirements for use of firearms in NSW refer to the NSW Police Firearms Registry, go to https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/licences

  Refer to the DPI Game Licencing Unit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hunting for information about hunting on public lands.