Tasmanian Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan Project

When it comes to the management of wild fallow deer populations in Tasmania, there are a lot of opposing opinions. From the green activists who want to see wild fallow deer eradicated from the landscape to the hunters who would prefer a healthy population to hunt, to the farmers who are often stuck in the middle, developing a management plan that takes all the key stakeholder needs into account can be quite a challenge. 

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) are attempting to develop a Tasmanian Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan that supports recreational hunting, while also considering the impacts that wild fallow deer populations have on farming and the environment.

In late November, DPIPWE will host a series of public forums to discuss all the key issues surrounding developing a Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan for Tasmania that considers all key stakeholders.

Key issues include: 

• supporting the needs of recreational deer hunters and ensuring the future of recreational hunting in Tasmania
• Managing wild fallow deer impacts on private or primary production land
• Managing wild fallow deer impacts on natural and cultural values
• Managing satellite wild fallow deer populations, particularly in areas currently free from wild fallow deer

To develop a plan that considers all the varied needs of the key stakeholders, the Plan will need to examine current accepted management practices and government policies, and consider additional ideas and actions. The Government’s plan is based around the need to keep wild fallow deer as a partly protected species under the Wildlife Regulations. 

If you want a say in how wild fallow deer are managed in Tasmania, we strongly encourage you to get along to one of the Public Information Sessions.

Public Information Session times

Bothwell – 23 November 2020, 6:30-8:00 pm
Bothwell Football Club Rooms, Bothwell Football Ground 

Longford – 24 November 2020, 6:30-8:00 pm
Riverlands Centre, 159 Wellington Street, Longford

Ulverstone – 25 November 2020, 6:30-8:00 pm
Ulverstone Sports and Leisure Centre, Flora Street, West Ulverstone

Brighton – 26 November 2020, 6:30-8:00 pm
Brighton Civic Centre, 25 Green Point Rd, Bridgewater

Please note: All sessions will be subject to a COVID Safety Plan, which means you must register if you want to attend. 

How to register

To register, email your name, a contact number and the session you wish to attend to DeerManagementPlan@dpipwe.tas.gov.au 

Alternatively, you can call Game Services Tasmania on 6165 3225 prior to 3pm on the day of the event.​

One person may be the contact for up to three other attendees at a single session provided you are able to provide the contact details of those attendees if required.

Written feedback

If you are unable to attend any of these sessions, DPIPWE welcomes written feedback via the email address above. While feedback is welcome anytime, if you want it to be included in the considerations for the Draft Plan, it will need to be received by DPIPWE by 11 December 2020.

Please be aware that while it is not intended to publish written feedback there may be a requirement to do so under some processes that may apply to correspondence to the Department.