Landholders encouraged to join feral deer trapping program in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area to reduce population

The Hastings Feral Deer Management Plan is a coordinated effort by a number of key stakeholders including LLS, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, National Parks and Wildlife, Forestry Corporation, Roads and Maritime Services and local landholders.

The new trapping technique was introduced in September last year and, with the program proving to be successful, LLS is encouraging landholders to get involved.

North Coast LLS senior biosecurity officer Mick Elliott said increased deer sightings in the region spurred the management plan into action.

"Feral deer can create a range of environmental impacts. The damage to vegetation is something a lot of people complain about and another big impact in the Port Macquaire area is their impact on water quality," he said.

"We get reports of deer impacting cars quite regularly and that can increase during mating season."

June through to September is usually when residents will notice an increase in deer due to their mating season, North Coast LLS team leader of invasive species Dean Chamberlin said.

"It's highly likely that for the next couple of months we will probably see more deer in and around streets and suburban areas of Port Macquarie," he said.

Mr Elliott said the number of feral deer in the area is due to vegetation corridors.

"It's extremely difficult to pinpoint a definite number of feral deer in the area. They can be quite secretive and move around at nighttime," he said.

"In Port Macquarie the deer like to move through the vegetation corridors and if they are feeling safe enough, they will bed down in those areas and come out during the night which can put them directly in people's front and back yards.

"We have embarked on thermal surveys to give us a bit of an idea of the numbers and that suggests to us that the population of feral deer is around 1000 animals and the density can be as high as 30 deer per 100 hectare."

The new trapping system has been adapted from similar techniques used in other parts of NSW and encourages deer to feed in a certain area at a time when LLS can humanely control the population.

"It includes the use of an automatic gate system and a slow introduction of a temporary fence to allow the deer to become used to that. We then increase the fencing while feeding the deer until we've made a trap. We then use an automatic gate to trap those deer and then, with the use of thermal firearms, we can humanely control the deer," Mr Elliott said.

"We have found that in most cases the deer are quite calm of a nighttime and the control is very humane."

LLS have also entered into an agreement with Billabong Zoo and provide them with the carcasses to help feed their big cats.

"We're quite fortunate that we have entered into an agreement with Billabong Zoo and so far the majority of the carcasses have gone to the zoo to feed their caged animals," Mr Elliott said.

"It's a good result in that we aren't having to landfill those animals or they're not left to attract other feral pests."

LLS is currently looking for more landholders in the area to join the program.

"For future control, people need to become involved. We're currently looking for sites to expand the trapping program and if people want to become involved with deer management on their property, they can give us a call on 1300 795 299," Mr Chamberlin said.

Locals can also aid LLS by reporting deer sightings through the FerelScan app or by contacting their LLS office.

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