PRESS RELEASE: Survey confirms deer growth in line with expectations – hunting critical to control

The Australian Deer Association (ADA) has welcomed the findings of the 2024 aerial survey of fallow deer in Tasmania, which show the population has increased broadly in line with expectations.

The survey found that within the core survey area, deer numbers increased from approximately 53,600 in 2019 to around 71,600 in 2024, representing an annual growth rate of about 6 per cent. This result is consistent with long-term population modelling and confirms that without management intervention, deer numbers will continue to rise.

“The survey highlights what hunters and landholders already know – deer will keep increasing unless managed,” said Scott Freeman, ADA’s Tasmanian Co-Ordinator. “Hunting plays a critical role in suppressing population growth and reducing impacts on farming, forestry, and the environment.”

Mr Freeman emphasised that recreational hunters make a significant contribution to population control and that the report itself recognises the need for more removals to meet management goals.

“Government and land managers need to continue to work with the hunting community. Expanding hunting access and opportunities is the most effective and cost-efficient way to keep deer populations in check,” Mr Freeman said.