Landholders who share boundaries with crown land said deer spent days in the fringes of state parks and forests and moved into farming, and even suburban areas, at night to graze.

Deer can now be seen right across the Murray and King valleys as well as the high country.

“Figures around two million has been bandied around but there hasn’t been an exact study,” said Member for Benambra Bill Tilley, who sits on the inquiry.

“I am confident that whilst this inquiry has been going on the departments and the statutory bodies have certainly got their ears raised and are listening.”

​Tawonga farmer Harry Ryder invited the inquiry committee to his farm to see the impact the deer population was having on his land and fences.

“In the last three years I, or members of my family and private shooters approved by myself, have shot in excess of 500 deer,” Mr Ryder said in his submission.

“It has become apparent that the number of deer are increasing every year.”

Among ideas considered to control deer numbers were the introduction of biological measures and providing mobile refrigerated containers for carcases so the meat could be harvested.

Retired army officer Bob Gough, who designed the Australian Deer Association accreditation course for Parks Victoria, believed shooting was an effective measure to help combat the deer population.

“For over 10 years across Victoria, volunteer hunters have conducted both simple and complex invasive species management on crown and private land with a range of government and non-government organizations and private landholders,” he said.

Mr Tilley said while the recommendations were to be finalized, he thought education would play a key role for national park users.

The inquiry, which held nine public hearings, including one at Bright on October 19, was due to report to Parliament on March 30.