Yarra Ranges deer a menace to agriculture, attracts illegal shooters as Government action urged
Headless carcasses are being found as illegal shooters take advantage of a surge in wild deer, which are attacking farmers’ crops. And, with a critical strategy a year overdue, the State Government is being urged to “ step up to the plate”.
Outer East
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The Yarra Ranges community is calling for the State Government to urgently release its overdue deer management strategy, which has been in the works since 2018.
In Victoria deer — including sambar, red, fallow and hog — are protected under the Wildlife Act and considered game, not a pest species.
Yarra Ranges Cr Jim Child said deer were a “horrific” issue in the area, especially the Upper Yarra region.
“They are a menace to agriculture,” Cr Child said.
He said the deer population had increased and the animals were coming out of the Yarra State Forest and surrounding Yarra Ranges National Park.
“The biggest problem is the State Government should declare them a pest,” Cr Child said.
“The Government has to step up to the plate and introduce measures to control this invasive species.”
Eildon state Liberal MP Cindy McLeish said the Government’s deer strategy was a year overdue.
“I have complaints constantly from locals who are fed up with their crops, vineyards and gardens being destroyed,” she said.
“Even worse is reports of illegal hunting.
“Residents can hear gun shots close by, spotlight torches being shone into their homes and often find headless carcasses left by the road.”
Warburton police Leading Senior Constable Tony Pagels said he expected deer activity would increase as the weather cooled
“With the change of weather they’ll come down to the low lands to find better grass,” Sen-Constable Pagels said.
He said motorists should be cautious with the potential for deer to hop out onto the road between Wesburn and Warburton.
Sen-Constable Pagels said spotlighting was an issue earlier this year on properties east Warburton.
“There is still an element of people who flout the law and think it’s OK to discharge a firearm close to homes and farms,” he said.
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He said people had been driving along the roads with their spotlights on, identifying deer and shooting the animal that was on private property.
Sen-Constable Pagels said it was an offence to use a spotlight in a recognised deer habit, fire a gun on or across a road, or shoot across or on a property without the owner’s permission.
The State Government has been contacted for comment.