Trial program keeps eye on sambar deer

Upper Murray Landcare Network secretary Lyn Coulston said the workshop-style event was positive with several organisations addressing the gathering of 75 landholders and interest groups.

“We know deer are having an impact on private lands as well as parks and reserves,” Mrs Coulston said.

“The purpose of the forum was to provide information so we could all hear about deer management.

“We could then see where gaps in the information were and work to fill those gaps.”

Mrs Coulston said a grey area was in rules and regulations surrounding deer, and what farmers or landholders could do to control them.

Parks Victoria is running a three-year control program on the Bogong High Plains, in partnership with the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia and the Australian Deer Association  to limit environmental damage deer are causing.

This trial is the first of its kind in the park and will investigate the effectiveness of ground shooting as a method for controlling sambar deer to reduce their impact on the environment.

“Our staff have seen a marked increase in deer activity, damaging waterways and affecting native wildlife,” said Ty Caling, Parks Victoria North East district manager.

“We are concerned about damage to Alpine peatlands, deer are damaging the fragile peats through grazing and tramping.

“So we’re looking at a three-year trial to limit the damage. Recreational deer hunting is not permitted so we’re pleased to be working with the Sporting Shooters Association and deer association.

“The program will be expanded to other areas of the Alpine National Park, there’s certainly been interest from people across the board about deer numbers.”

That was welcomed by landholders, who have little power to stop deer tramping and grazing crops.

Wild deer have never been counted, although anecdotal evidence shows their numbers are increasing.

While shooting has been effective in regulating numbers, is not thought to be an effective way of reducing numbers.