“PLAGUE-like” feral deer numbers are demanding hours of attention from NSW farmers every day and trampling their bottom line to the tune of $20,000 a year.
South Coast and Snowy Mountains producers say they are particularly fed up with the surge in deer – and the associated production, environmental, and biosecurity concerns – and have called for the state government to label the animal a pest to allow for a wider management plan.
Jindabyne beef producer Ted Rowley said he had at least 150 deer on his property during the day, and more than 200 at night, despite an ongoing culling program.
“I’m driving around for a couple of hours every day blaring the horn trying to get them out of grazing areas,” Mr Rowley said.
“Last year I shot 240 of them on my property. This year I’m already up to 165.
“If it weren’t for the deer, I’d be able to have an extra 20 to 40 breeding cattle – that’s about $20,000 a year for me.”
Mr Rowley’s frustration flows as the NSW Natural Resources Commission (NRC) prepares to head into the bush for community consultation on its draft pest animal review.
The Coalition-commissioned report covers carp, domestic cats, wild dogs and pigs – but has been particularly scathing on feral deer, and has suggested game status be removed the animal so landowners can better stop their spread.
The government does not have up-to-date figures but a conservative CSIRO estimate in 2014 puts numbers at 200,000 across the eastern states and South Australia.
Leading conservation organisations and pest management groups have endorsed the NRC review but the Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers Party has urged supporters to register their opposition at the public consultation meetings planned around the state.
Shooters say deer are low on the government’s rankings for agricultural, biosecurity, and environmental threats, and allege their current classification as game provides adequate control options for rural producers.
They have also pushed for hunting to be allowed in national parks as a form of population control.
But many landholders aren’t buying it.
Mr Rowley - who does not want his property identified for fear of being targeted by illegal hunters – said he had been forced to reduce his stocking rate by 30 per cent.
His 400-hectare property is next to the Kosciusko National Park, which harbours a large deer population.
Mr Rowley said while this was a major issue for the park’s ecological assets, the surrounding farms had also become major breeding sites.
“I’d say the source of the deer come from and move between private property as much as the park, and (park managers) have the same problems with deer management that we do,” he said
“Being game animals, there are regulations relating to when and how they are culled.
“Recreational hunting alone is not effective in controlling pest animal numbers.”
Ralph Lay, 69, is a beef producer from Kiah just south of Eden.
The growing population of feral deer has cut his carrying capacity dramatically.
“I’m 69 years old. I got into this to run cattle, not to manage deer,” he said.
“It’s not how I want to spend my life.”
Mr Lay said used to run 30 breeding cows on his 50-hectare property and now runs 22. He no longer has the feed to finish steers because deer have decimated his pastures.
He said he spends an extra $12,000 per year on hay.
“I bought here in 2002, and used to see four to six deer a week,” he said.
“Now some days there are 200 grazing in a single paddock”.
“It’s been a real eye opener teaching people just how many are out there. People can’t believe how many numbers are in the paddocks.”
Mr Lay said while Department of Primary Industries had allowed extra shooting on his property, a state-wide solution and coordinated approach was needed.
“There’s no registered poison for deer because they are classified as game, so there’s no baiting program to work alongside the shooting.”
The NRC public consultation heads to Tamworth on April 29, Shoalhaven on May 3, Orange on May 6, Deniliquin on May 11, Parramatta on May 13 and Bourke on May 17.