The Tasmanian Government is committed to exploring the feasibility of a trial to use wild-shot deer for commercial purposes.
Advertisements appeared today seeking qualified consultants to undertake the study which will also include the design of any potential trial, if such a trial is deemed to be feasible by the consultant.
Exploring the feasibility of a trial to use wild-shot deer commercially was a commitment the Government gave in its response to the 2017 Legislative Council inquiry into wild fallow deer in Tasmania.
Following consultation with the Tasmanian Game Council and other stakeholders, the Government is now seeking an independent provider to undertake that study.
It is important to note this study is not intended to determine the financial viability of, or market development for wild-shot deer products. This would be for individual commercial businesses to determine.
What this study will determine is whether it is feasible to undertake a trial. It will evaluate the potential for deer farmers and landholders to supply value added wild deer products for the regulated food and restaurant trade.
The study, including provision of a report, will be carried out in coming months and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2020.
This is the latest step in the Tasmanian Government’s plan to modernise how the state’s wild fallow deer population is managed.
Other initiatives already delivered include establishing a new Game Services Tasmania within DPIPWE, removing quotas and tags for anterless deer, extending the antlerless deer hunting season, providing landholders with five-year crop protection permits for anterless deer, opening up new areas of reserved land for recreational deer hunting and establishing the Tasmanian Game Council.
For more information, go to www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/deer-feasibility
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