The Tasmanian Government is inviting Tasmanians to have their say on the future management of wild fallow deer, with the first stage of consultation on the next Tasmanian Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan now open.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Gavin Pearce, said through the Tasmanian Government's 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, we're building on our work to rein in deer numbers.
"Our farmers, hunters, and landowners have told us action needs to be taken now, and we've heard them loud and clear," Minister Pearce said.
"We've unlocked more land, given hunters more access, slashed red tape, and provided more commercial opportunities for harvesting deer.
"But despite actions taken to date, the data is clear; deer numbers are going up.
"By bringing the next management plan forward, we can take stronger action to get this under control.
"The first step in this process is taking a step back, looking at what we have delivered, and getting feedback from the community on what the future should look like.
"Recognising there's no silver bullet, we want to pull many of the levers in front of us to get this sorted.
"This includes consulting on the current status of deer, recognising Tasmania is the only state or territory that still gives wild fallow deer protected status on all land, including private land.
"I look forward to hearing the diverse range of views on how we can best bring deer numbers back to a sustainable footing."
The consultation includes a discussion paper, online survey and opportunity to make a written submission.
Consultation is open until 5pm on Thursday, 26 November 2026.
The discussion paper, online survey and information on how to make a submission are available at https://nre.tas.gov.au/deer-plan
Stakeholders who have participated in previous deer management consultations can provide new feedback or advise that their earlier submissions remain relevant to the current review.
