Deer
Report deer sightings National Feral Deer Action Plan Managing feral deer Feral deer hunting regulations
Feral deer are becoming one of Australia’s worst pest animals.
Feral deer can quickly breed and develop large herds with even bigger appetites. As the number of feral deer herds grow, their population growth and the problems they cause, become very difficult to manage.
There are now 6 species of feral deer in Australia, causing significant and widespread problems.
In regions not far from The Northern Rivers feral deer are already:
- causing serious collisions on roads
- reducing the ability of farmers to earn a living
- causing significant environmental damage.
In fact, feral deer have now been listed as a key threatening process in NSW under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
Report deer sightings
Report deer sightings in the Tweed, neighbouring councils and on the Queensland/NSW border.
Call the Deer Project Officer on 02 6670 2193, call Local Land Services on 1300 795 299 or enter the location into Deer Scan.
View the Landholder Guide for Monitoring and Reporting Feral Deer(PDF, 2MB).
'The Northern Rivers is on Feral Deer Alert' program
Tweed Shire Council has joined forces with Lismore and Kyogle councils and the Tweed and Border Ranges-Richmond Valley Landcare groups to launch ‘The Northern Rivers is on Feral Deer Alert’ program.
This community awareness campaign aims to prevent feral deer numbers growing out of control in the region, before it’s too late.
The campaign asks the whole Northern Rivers community to stay on Feral Deer Alert, while they are driving, bush walking or managing their property, and to report feral deer sightings.
For more information, watch the video below or visit feraldeeralert.com.au.
National Feral Deer Action Plan
The National Feral Deer Action Plan aims to limit further spread of feral deer into new areas and reduce the impacts of large populations of feral deer on primary production, communities and the environment. The plan will raise awareness of feral deer impacts and control options to encourage early action on all small isolated populations, as well as large populations in priority areas. The plan also promotes the need to develop and trial new tools, and to build capacity to detect, cull and prevent further spread of feral deer.
The plan is for land management agencies, groups and organisations, governments, and land managers who are impacted by feral deer, or are likely to be impacted soon.
Feral deer hunting regulations
Feral deer are declared game animals under the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002. This means deer hunting in NSW is controlled and regulated. There are a number of restrictions on how and when deer hunting can be carried out.
Visit the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) website for more information.
Managing feral deer in NSW
Certain deer hunting regulations that were suspended in 2018 have been extended for another 5 years, until 15 November 2026.
Private land hunters with permission to hunt from a landholder or occupier do not require a game hunting licence.
Individuals seeking to target feral deer on public land must:
Visit the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) website for more information.