PARK WATCH Article December 2025 |

Feral deer should be eliminated from national parks now, says Peter Jacobs, Victorian Deer Control Community Network, Executive Officer

The magnificent Major Mitchell Plateau commands the backdrop to a picturesque property bordering the eastern side of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. Tom Guthrie is a sheep farmer and winemaker; his family has farmed this land for a hundred years.

Tom loves this landscape, in particular the River Red Gum woodland with massive, ancient trees around one thousand years old. He sees the importance of farming and nature conservation working hand in hand. Nearly half the 3000-acre property is fenced to protect native habitat.

Tom’s seen his share of fires, floods, and drought. But he reckons two recent large fires in the Grampians/Gariwerd happening in quick succession have had a devastating impact on wildlife, livelihoods and community. He lost fencing, pasture and grape harvest but is thankful his house and stock were saved.

He’s also seen the population of pests like feral deer in the national park grow and expand. ‘Forty years back I might have seen one deer in six months and its was a curiosity. Then, 10 years ago, I was seeing mobs of six to eight feral deer. In the last few years, I am seeing mobs of 60 or more’ says Tom.

‘The Grampians/Gariwerd is like a land island, and we should be able to eliminate feral deer if park managers and neighbours work together’ he adds. ‘The extensive fires provide a rare opportunity right now to cull deer efficiently and humanely in the park from helicopters while the tree canopy is sparse. Combined with ground shooting on open adjoining private land, we can eliminate feral deer, but we need to act now, not wait. It’s heartbreaking to see feral deer are now munching and tramping nature and farmland as it’s recovering.’

‘Parks Victoria have recently advised me they are undertaking pest animal control post fires and have invited adjoining landowners to give approval to control pests on their properties, including feral deer. As a conservationist and farmer adjoining the park I applaud this collaboration with neighbours as it is key to success.’

‘However, we must take this opportunity to eliminate feral deer for good and not be left with expensive year to year control programs making no inroads as the population expands. Currently, landowners are left with building expensive deer proof fences or seeing valuable crops and pastures being damaged. I would welcome a communique and database where neighbours can report pests and locations and work together on strategic control.’

‘Eliminating feral deer now from bushfire affected places like Grampians (Gariwerd) and Little Desert makes perfect sense, so I say get on with it!” says Tom.

Expert advice ignored

In November, the government announced it will be ignoring overwhelming public opinion and the advice of its own expert panel that recommended ‘deer should be removed from the Wildlife Act so they can be declared a pest’.

Inexplicably, Victoria will remain the only mainland state that still protects feral deer despite having the highest population and spread, continuing this barrier to effective control.

Find out more from the Victorian Deer Control Community Network at
vdccn.org.au