Deer hunters opening fire across private land in Glenburn, Kinglake

Rogue deer hunters are gunning down their prey on private properties on Melbourne’s rural fringes, leaving land owners fearing a stray bullet could come “smashing through” windows where their families are sleeping.

Wild deer are causing huge amounts of damage to properties on Melbourne’s outer fringes but “careless shooting” is not the solution, landowners say. File photo: Zoe Phillips

Careless hunters who gunned down a deer while on private property on Nillumbik’s fringe have been warned to hold their fire or risk an innocent person being killed.

Three “very loud bangs” woke Oswald Gonzalez two weeks ago — he later discovered the carcass of a decapitated deer rotting on his Glenburn farm and realised hunters had not just fired onto his property without his permission, but had trespassed in order to snatch the animal’s head.

“The scariest part is the shooters did not even think of our safety,” he said.

“We live here — we have a 10 acre farm but where the deer was found was actually closer to the next door neighbour’s home.

“Let’s just say that had the bullet missed it wouldn’t have been nice for the homeowners next door to wake up to a bullet smashing through their window.”

The Diamond Valley Leader revealed in March wild deer were stampeding through properties, knocking down fences, destroying gardens and posing a huge risk for motorists.

And the problem was rife throughout the outer-rural areas of Nillumbik to the Yarra River.

Earlier this year, P-plater Zac Thiessen had a terrifying encounter which nearly claimed his life when a spooked deer jumped on the roof of his car before smashing his windscreen while he was driving in Park Orchards.

Ringwood North’s Zac Thiessen in his car, which was destroyed by a deer. Picture: Mark Dadswell

The Leader later reported Nillumbik Council was seeking professional shooters in a desperate attempt to cull the city’s “out-of-control” deer population.

While Mr Gonzalez acknowledged the wild animals were causing havoc for landholders across Melbourne, he said “careless shooting” was not a solution.

“We know deer are an out-of-control problem, but you can’t just go out shooting on private land in the middle of the night without our permission,” he said.

“You wake up so suddenly and you have no idea what’s going on and we have pets and livestock on our farm.

“It only takes one bullet in the wrong direction for something serious to happen.”

Whittlesea Sergeant Steven Cuxson said police had received one other report of a deer being gunned down while on private property in Kinglake West earlier this month.

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He warned it was an offence under the Firearm Act if anyone shot on or across private land without the property owner’s written consent.

“If you want to shoot deer on public land you need a gaming license which endorses deer hunting and if you want to shoot deer on private land you will need written permission from the landholder,” Sergeant Cuxson said.

“If you have not gotten permission and you do shoot on or across private property it is extremely dangerous and irresponsible.”

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