It is now experiencing an unexpected boom in its feral deer population. The past five years have seen an increase of almost 20,000 of these deer – wow! This increase raises the overall estimated population to nearly 71,655 — a nearly 33% increase from 53,660 in 2019. The recent aerial survey, conducted in October 2024, highlighted a significant concern as the population growth rate varies between 12 percent and 55 percent across the state. Feral deer are a growing problem across central and northeastern Tasmania, their range as established by Proust et al.
The stakes of this population explosion are enormous too. Experts across the country are raising the alarm over the increasing deer population. They caution that these increasing figures put delicate habitats at risk, particularly in the Central Plateau Conservation Area and Walls of Jerusalem National Park. As Dr. Tiana Pirtle explained, just a handful of deer can cause catastrophic ecological harm due to overbrowsing and hoofshearing.
Ecological Impact
The effect of the increasing deer population on Tasmania’s natural environment should not be overlooked. Dr. Pirtle notes that “even just a few deer in there can really destroy and permanently alter those landscapes through overgrazing and trampling.” Unfortunately, the survey results paint a grim picture—deer are moving west from the Midlands. This abrupt replacement of highly protected forests and rural communities for the pipeline route has conservationists deeply alarmed.
This would be a dramatic and ecologically dangerous shift which the Invasive Species Council strongly opposes. They argue that the increase was not surprising given today’s state of salmon management. A spokesperson stated, “It’s very concerning and indicative that what the government policies have been to date are not working and we really need a dramatic change of direction.”
In making the announcement, Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce recognized the urgency of the situation and need for action. “It’s something we have to address very quickly,” he said, acknowledging that current practices are not even close to enough to reduce the population.
Management Challenges
The increase in deer population has resulted in a burden on local resources and outcry to adopt more sustainable management practices. Yet TasFarmers, the state’s major farmers advocacy group, claims that red tape has made it impossible to get on top of a burgeoning deer population. Chief executive Nathan Calman stated that “the feral deer population in Tasmania is out of control and we need to start thinking differently around what measures we take moving forward to control the population.”
Calman thinks that hunters and farmers can work together in effective ways that put more deer on the ground, and farm more land responsibly. “Recreational hunters, primary producers, and commercial hunters all have a role to play,” he remarked. He specifically called for rethinking existing rules preventing people from hunting deer at night.
Mr. Di Falco, a lobbyist for TasFarmers, now on behalf of hunters. He wants them to have more access to Sustainable Timber Tasmania estate. “Hunters are more than happy to cull deer free of charge,” he noted. This productive partnership would offer a sustainable method for controlling deer populations on agricultural fields.
Government Response
The Tasmanian government is now feeling the heat and must act quickly and effectively to tackle the emerging threat. So Minister Pearce understands that not enough is being done, admitting bluntly, “Those numbers are going the wrong way.” He’s pushing for a loosening of the red tape to allow better cooperation between farmers and recreational shooters.
Pearce piled on as well, noting the need to cut red tape for both farmers and recreational shooters. I’m totally in favor of lowering those deer numbers and reducing that regulatory burden,’ ” he added. This method to smartly target and reduce feral deer populations would boost efficiency and lower costs to taxpayers while preserving sensitive habitat.
As Tasmania grapples with this unexpected population boom, the need for a coordinated response involving government entities, farmers, and hunters appears crucial. This collaborative effort can be seen as a model for how to approach successful wildlife management in the years ahead.
