Tasmanian deer trial feasibility study begins

11 June, 2020

Tasmania’s Primary Industries Minister, Guy Barnett, announced the commencement of a feasibility study into a trial of the use of wild shot deer in Tasmania for commercial purposes.

The study will be conducted by Tasmanian firm, Community Led Impact Partnerships (CLIP).

This study is one of the commitments that the Tasmania Government made in its response to the 2017 Tasmanian Legislative Council inquiry into wild fallow deer in Tasmania. Amongst other commitments were:

• An assessment of the current numbers of deer and future populations projections
• The establishment of the Tasmanian Game Council to provide advice to the Minister on delivering contemporary and effective Quality Deer Management in Tasmania, hunting and game management, browsing animal management and deer farming matters.
• The establishment and resourcing of Game Services Tasmania.
• Changes to the Tasmanian deer season arrangements.

The Tasmanian Government has stressed that it is important to note this feasibility study will help inform if a trial should be undertaken and no decision regarding commercial use of wild shot deer has been made.

Predictably, the Tasmanian Greens Leader has attempted to use this announcement to attempt to further her identity politics, just as she did in a bizarre and misinformed speech a couple of months ago.