“This degree of change in a five-year period was not anticipated,” the report states.<\/p>\n
“We recommend that surveys need to be done more frequently (every 2\u20133 years) to monitor whether the deer management goals of the current management plan are being met.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The distribution of deer in the 2019 survey area. (Supplied: NRE Tas)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The 2024 survey shows a change in distribution. (Supplied: NRE Tas)<\/p>\n
The report was prepared by Terrestrial Ecosystem Services and commissioned by the Department of Natural Resources.<\/p>\n
Minister flags more land for hunting<\/p>\n
Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce acknowledged more needed to be done.<\/p>\n
“Those numbers are going the wrong way,” he said.<\/p>\n
“This is not a linear line, so with any species that is on the up and up, once we get to a certain level it’s very difficult to control.”<\/p>\n
He said the government was looking at opening more land for deer hunting and reducing red tape.<\/p>\n
“We need to work swiftly on this,” he said.<\/p>\n
“If we can make things simpler for not only our farmers but also our recreational shooters in reducing those deer numbers, then that’s what I’m all about, that reduction in red tape.”<\/p>\n
Mr Pearce said the government was planning to conduct another survey in 2027.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The population has risen between 12 and 55 per cent in five years, the report estimates (ABC News: Luke Bowden)<\/p>\n
The Invasive Species Council, which has long advocated for tougher deer management policies in Tasmania, said the population increase was unsurprising.<\/p>\n
“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,” conservation officer Tiana Pirtle said.<\/p>\n
“This is really the tipping point where the Tasmanian government can step up and make a change and finally bring our federal deer crisis under control before it’s too late.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Some parts of Tasmania are “no deer” zones and other parts are mixed management or sustainable hunting zones.\u00a0 (Supplied: Nicole Anderson)<\/p>\n
Plan allows for ‘sustainable hunting’<\/p>\n
Dr Pirtle said deer caused damage to sensitive ecosystems such as in the Central Plateau Conservation Area and the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.<\/p>\n
“Even just a few deer in there can really destroy and permanently alter those landscapes through overgrazing and trampling,” she said.<\/p>\n
“The report found there’s a significant westward spread from the Midlands towards that really high conservation value area and very sensitive landscapes in the Walls of Jerusalem, the Central Plateau.”<\/p>\n