By CAROLINE TUNG 

Better research is needed before there can be any real strategy to control the hundreds of thousands of wild deer that are destroying Victoria's national parks, sporting shooters say. 

The deer, which the Invasive Species Council calls "the most important emerging pest species" in eastern Australia, are the subject of a current state parliamentary inquiry and trial shooting programs.

Hunting groups such as the Australian Deer Association and Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) say a lack of substantial research is a "significant limitation" for effective deer management programs. 

Expanding deer populations in the eastern states have posed significant problems such as destroying the natural habitats of native animals.

“It is not feasible to properly and proactively manage deer without a clear, well-resourced strategy supported by sound and relevant research,” says Australian Deer Association CEO Barry Howlett.

In Victoria, deer have reportedly destroyed private and public land  across the state, and been called a severe road hazard in some areas.

Sambar deer (considered the most destructive species) have spread into Wilsons Promontory National Park, where they were seen for the first time in July.

Among more than 200 submissions to the Control of Invasive Species on Crown Land parliamentary inquiry, which is due to report at the end of March 2017, are dozens detailing  damage being done by deer to properties and public land, many of them from private citizens. 

Richard Den, whose land is adjacent to Mt Buffalo National Park, says high numbers of deer are destroying his property, in a way that large numbers of kangaroos never have. 

"My neighbours are all in a similar position with deer, and are having their trees and gardens decimated. The problem will only get worse as there is no effort being made to limit the population explosion of these animals," he wrote in his submission. 

The submissions include a number that question the effectiveness of recreational shooting in containing the deer numbers. 

The group Lawyers for Animals says recreational shooting is unlikely to work, "and may even contribute to population increases in the target species", among a range of other issues it raises. 

It calls in the inquiry to "commission a study into the current population of each wild deer species in Victoria including their distribution; density; and factors affecting their reproduction and migration". 

They are among a range of experts and authorities who say more knowledge of deer habitat, population, movement and distribution is needed before the Government can implement any effective containment strategy.

SSAA Victoria is currently in partnership with Parks Victoria undertaking a conservation pest management program, which includes hunting deer.

“The key point to deer is that while we seem to spend an inordinate amount of time hunting them without success, that is due to their very nature,” says SSAA programs coordinator David Croft.

“We need to understand what they do and why they do it.

“Once we get that sort of knowledge … it will turn the tables a bit on the huntability of [deer].”

Mr Croft also says another issue with deer is the fact they have no natural predator in Australian habitats.

“There is a dearth of worthwhile research and information about deer, the population density, biology and the behavioural drivers underlying their breeding and migration,” says SSAA Victorian CEO Jack Wegman.

A recent deer control program (with Parks Victoria and the Australian Deer Association) at Wilsons Promontory successfully removed 44 hog deer – an increase from previous operations.

The SSAA began conservation pest management programs in 2003, targeting various animals such as dogs, cats, pigs, rabbits and foxes. Their project for deer is part of three-year trial program with Parks Victoria.

SSAA Victoria is calling for greater access to Crown Land after receiving further funding to continue conservation and pest management program for another four years, and views restricted access to Crown Land as a key issue.

“There is some conflict we see or some limitations in terms of the access [to land] that we can get,” Mr Wegman says. “There is demand for public parks, and we need to balance that against having access for deer control."

But the Invasive Species Council says recreational hunting will not have a significant outcome for feral deer control.

“It is a recreational pastime to remove a small number of deer,” says council CEO Andrew Cox.

“If we are trying to keep areas deer free, we need a containment strategy and coordination from the State Government.”

Mr Cox told the Victorian parliamentary Inquiry into the Control of Invasive Animals on Crown Land that reducing the impact of deer should be the key objective, and that recreational hunters could play a role.

According to experts, 40 per cent of the deer population need to be killed in order to control deer numbers in Victoria.

Although no coordinated research has been conducted to quantify deer numbers in Victoria, the inquiry has heard deer numbers range from "well in the hundreds of thousands" to one million.

The Invasive Species Council has also advised the Inquiry that research into poison trials as a method for culling deer is necessary.

“There is no approved poison for deer control in New South Wales and Victoria,” says Mr Cox.

“This is a problem because this could be the most effective way of controlling [deer]. “Part of the reason is because the research to get approvals has not been done.”

What is the Control of Invasive Species on Crown Land parliamentary inquiry?The Control of Invasive Species on Crown Land parliamentary inquiry was referred to the Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Committee (ENRRDC) to consider the benefits of Parks Victoria and community hunting organisations being involved in controlling invasive animal populations. Factors taken into account include biodiversity outcomes, community safety, cost of alternative pest control methods, and the possibility of applying current programs to control other invasive animals. The inquiry is conducted by the ENRRDC, a joint investigatory committee of the Victorian Parliament chaired by Bronwyn Halfpenny (Member for Thomastown). Committee members include deputy chair Tim McCurdy (Member for Ovens Valley),Simon Ramsay (Member for Western Victoria),  Bill Tilley (Member for Benambra), Tim Richardson (Member for Mordialloc),  Vicki Ward (Member for Eltham) and Daniel Young (Member for the Northern Victoria electorate).The Inquiry is due to report on March 30, 2017, with a final report to be produced by government within six months.