A draft of the National Feral Deer (sic) Action Plan has been released for public consultation and feedback.
Unfortunately, the draft of the action plan appears focused on generating hysteria and alarmism instead of taking practical, evidence-based management principles towards managing wild deer.
Readers of the draft plan will quickly note that the ongoing egregious demonisation of deer is prevalent throughout the draft plan. And that it is clouding out a rational approach that acknowledges, recognises, and values the largest stakeholder in wild deer management, recreational deer hunters.
Whilst it is acknowledged that recreational deer hunting alone is not the only tool required to manage wild deer, deliberately downplaying its role to the point of exclusion is erroneous.
In Victoria alone, 200,000 wild deer are harvested annually as sustainable wild food by recreational hunters. By far and away, the single largest and most economically effective management tool.
It is alarming that the plan developed by the working group has prioritised the controversial development and trial of lethal baits ahead of the significant concerns held around animal welfare and animals suffering slow and agonisingly brutal deaths. Baiting results in carcasses being left to rot and risk ingestion by other wildlife, such as dingoes, eagles, crows, and possums, condemning them to the same tortuous ending. This is unacceptable in our modern society.
The Australian Deer Association will provide additional commentary as soon as possible and a written submission by March 20 2023, deadline.
You can read the plan in full here.
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