GMLC Briefing Paper No 2 - Tasmanian Deer Management
Published: 05/01/2010
GMLC Briefing Paper No 2 - Tasmanian Deer Management
INFORMATION PAPER FOR
GMLC meeting 8th October 2009
From
Tasmanian Deer Advisory Committee Inc.
File: TDAC 20090919
Subject: Improving Tasmanian Deer Management Efficiency for all Stakeholders
Statement of Purpose:
Improve Tasmania’s management and control of deer for all stakeholders during the gazetted deer season and crop protection period.
Proposal:
1. Extension of the male deer season one week.
2. Extension of the female deer season one month.
3. Extra Antlerless tag for recreational hunters. (3 in total)
4. Antlerless tags for proposed May - July doe season to be authorised for use during both daylight and prohibited hours (spotlighting).
Background/Discussion:
Tasmania has a 150 year history of holding a gazetted deer season with bucks taken during March (including 2 weeks for antlerless) and antlerless during May /June - 4 weeks.
Deer outside the recognised deer seasons are controlled under a crop protection permit issued at considerable expense by the Wildlife Management Branch and at huge management and direct costs to landowners that sometimes includes extensive delays before a crop can be protected.
The following is designed to improve the harvest efficiency for male and antlerless deer, improve game control opportunities for landowners and limit landowners and the Wildlife Managements Branches cost and time for administration and inspection prior to issue of crop protection permits.
Extension of the buck season by starting one week earlier:
1. Trial a one week extension to the buck season by starting one week earlier for 2010.
2. Harvest more bucks to assist landowners where numbers are a concern approaching winter. 3. Reduce enforcement time for Wildlife rangers outside the male deer season.
4. Protect landowner assets through hunter presence on property during peak period of activity.
5. Protect bucks from unscrupulous game theft during the April breeding period.
6. Reduce issue of CPP’ and GMSU time visiting landowners to deal with male deer control issues when the buck season closes.
7. Allows Landowners and hunters a longer period to manage bucks for recreation, cull management or control under agreed property based management plans.
Extension of the female deer season one month. Extra Antlerless tag for recreational hunters. Antlerless tags for proposed May - July doe season to be authorised for use during both daylight and prohibited hours (spotlighting).
1. Increase deer harvest under legislation and agreed property based game management plans or regional for future management decisions.
2. Reduce GMSU time inspecting properties and issuing Crop Protection Permits.
3. Provide landowners with immediate authority to harvest deer via hunters with extra antlerless tags when a crop protection problem occurs.
4. Antlerless tags to be legislated for use for either daylight or during prohibited hours (spotlighting) and/or approved at discretion of the landowner.
5. Reporting of harvest now the responsibility of the hunter direct to GMSU via licence returns, allowing landowners to get on with farm management. (unless specified otherwise).
6. GMSU receive better harvest data via hunters annual return to sustainably manage deer at levels agreed under Property Based Game Management Plans.
7. GMSU save on cost and administration of the Crop Protection system and provides an immediate response system for landowners to deal with deer issues immediately crop damage occurs. So takes away unacceptable delays when landowners apply for CPP’s.
8. Reduces landowner complaints to GMSU re: timely issue of CPP’s and number needed.
9. Reduces landowner costs from damage or loss of crops.
Cost Implications:
1. Increased revenue to Wildlife Management Branch (consolidated revenue) via small increase in extra antlerless tag. Say $10.00 x 4,000 = $40,000
2. Landowners save through less administration and immediate and timely protection of crops.
3. Recreational hunters pay additional $10.00 for mandatory extra tag on game licence.
System Implications:
1. Crop Protection System revised after thorough review.
2. Game Licence system changes. To include extra tag and hunter annual reporting system upgraded to include property or region and other important data collection.
3. Sustainable deer management and monitoring system developed by GMSU.
Outcome Required:
Legislation change to allow the aforementioned to be in place by 1st January 2010.
Prepared by: Endorsed by: Submitted by:
For TDAC Geoff Herbert Terry Hill Committee Vice President President & Delegate