Deer report released

The latest report on deer harvest in Victoria has been released, with the Game Management Authority reporting a 70 per cent increase in harvests.

The ‘Estimates of the 2021 deer harvest in Victoria’ report was released on Thursday 20 October, with results showing 118,900 deer were harvested in 2021, up from 69,900 in 2020.

That increase was influenced by the relaxing of COVID safety protocols compared to 2020, but a 49 per cent increase on the long-term average was also observed, as well as a record number of licenced recreational deer hunters.

There were 49,857 recreational deer hunters in Victoria in 2021, a 20 per cent increase on 2020’s number of 41,056.

Sambar Deer was the most harvested species with an estimated total harvest of 68,916 deer, of which 57 per cent were female. Fallow Deer was the second most harvested species, with an estimated harvest of 35,351 deer, of which 56 per cent were female.

36 per cent of licenced deer hunters actively hunted in 2021, harvesting an estimate 6.6 deer over 13.6 days on average.

GMA Research Principal, Dr Jason Flesch, said the increase in deer harvest numbers were a result of more active hunters in the field during the 2021 deer hunting season.

“The easing of restrictions on travel and recreational activity during 2021 has likely led to an increase in hunter activity. This has resulted in an increase in the estimated number of deer harvested in 2020,” Dr Flesch said.

“Information about the number of deer harvested by recreational hunters informs decisions about deer control and the management of hunting on public and private land in Victoria.”

Recreational hunters contribute to a range of control methods that are important for curbing the impacts of deer populations, such as damage to the environment, the agriculture sector, community assets, and sites of cultural significance to Traditional Owners.

For a full copy of the ‘Estimates of the 2021 deer harvest in Victoria’ report, visit www.gma.vic.gov.au.