Biosecurity Queensland has invited feedback on Queensland’s feral deer management strategy 2022-27. Feedback can be provided via their e-Hub where you can complete a survey or upload a written submission.
The strategy will set the direction for the management of feral deer in Queensland for the next 5 years. The draft strategy provides guidance for the direction of regional/local government biosecurity planning.
It encourages collaboration and a coordinated approach to the management of feral deer and the reduction of impacts.
The major problem with the plan is that the Queensland Government still do not regard recreational hunters as a control method. They have vast public lands that could utilize public land hunters as one of the many control methods NSW and Victoria currently do.
Recreational hunting is generally not considered an effective method of reducing feral deer numbers
because of a reluctance to hunt and poor hunting success at low deer densities (Bengsen et al.
2020).
To have your say please follow this link. https://daf.engagementhub.com.au/feral-deer-strategy
Control Methods
Control methods are limited for feral deer and it is essential that best practice methods are used.
Feral deer are wary and can become more difficult to manage if subjected to ineffective or poorly
implemented control. Effective control of feral deer requires an assessment of each situation.
Control also needs to include considerations of animal welfare, non-target impacts, public safety,
occupational health and safety, land tenure, use and size (e.g. urban and peri-urban, vs large
landholdings) and restrictions (legislative and practical restrictions e.g., use of firearms on small
landholdings), and social aspects (e.g. public perceptions, level of land manager support for
activities).
The main methods include:
• Ground shooting which is the main control method for feral deer and is carried out by
experienced, skilled and responsible shooters
• Aerial shooting (from helicopter) particularly for inaccessible areas, sometimes used with
assistance of thermal detection technology
• Trapping (using single or pen traps) which should follow the appropriate guidelines to minimise
adverse animal welfare outcomes
• Permanent enclosure traps (or corral traps) that can be effective at sites where deer are known to
frequent and provide good animal welfare outcomes
• Exclusion fencing is sometimes used by farmers and to protect specific environmental assets,
such as orchards or horticultural crops, but can have negative effects on non-target species.
Recreational hunting is generally not considered an effective method of reducing feral deer numbers
because of a reluctance to hunt and poor hunting success at low deer densities (Bengsen et al.
2020).
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