mitigated. MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES Traditional Owner involvement in deer management is currently Management of problem deer is limited. As custodians of the land, restricted by the limited number of Traditional Owners attach great control options available. social, economic and spiritual value Information on options and the to the plants and animals on their cost of each is also limited. Country. Native title determinations Shooting and exclusion fencing and settlement agreements are the most commonly used recognise the relationship control methods, however, public Traditional Owners have with their safety risks can limit the use of lands and waters and recognise firearms in some situations and them as equal partners in the fencing is costly. There is a need management of Victoria’s natural to undertake research and resources. There is a need for more alternative methods of Traditional Owner involvement in deer control. deer management to limit impacts on their cultural values and create Management of problem deer in opportunities for involvement in peri-urban areas can be management. challenging, due to restrictions on firearm use, limited availability of are many knowledge gaps in relation other control methods and a wide to deer management. range of land tenures that make Examples of knowledge gaps are coordinated control difficult. presented in Appendix C and should Opportunities exist to educate land be considered priorities for research. managers on appropriate control However, the absence of this options and better understand road information should not preclude safety issues and how they can be action from undertaken.
MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES Management of problem deer is restricted by the limited number of control options available. Information on options and the cost of each is also limited. Shooting and exclusion fencing are the most commonly used control methods, however, public safety risks can limit the use of firearms in some situations and fencing is costly. There is a need to undertake research and alternative methods of deer control. Management of problem deer in peri-urban areas can be challenging, due to restrictions on firearm use, limited availability of other control methods and a wide range of land tenures that make coordinated control difficult. Opportunities exist to educate land managers on appropriate control options and better understand road safety issues and how they can be mitigated. Traditional Owner involvement in deer management is currently limited. As custodians of the land, Traditional Owners attach great social, economic and spiritual value to the plants and animals on their Country. Native title determinations and settlement agreements recognise the relationship Traditional Owners have with their lands and waters and recognise them as equal partners in the management of Victoria’s natural resources. There is a need for more Traditional Owner involvement in deer management to limit impacts on their cultural values and create opportunities for involvement in management. are many knowledge gaps in relation to deer management. Examples of knowledge gaps are presented in Appendix C and should be considered priorities for research. However, the absence of this information should not preclude action from undertaken.
Deer_Management_Strategy_Word_New.docx