Each year, the Game Management Authority (GMA) releases a harvest estimation for recreational deer hunters.

In Victoria, recreational hunters require a game licence; this enables the hunters, not the animals they hunt, to be regulated, in this case, wild deer. As a result of the hunters requiring a licence, they can then be contacted and engaged in surveys of their hunting activities, providing valuable data and information to help provide an evidence-based approach to public policy.

Every two months throughout the year, 200 hunters are contacted and asked a series of questions relating to their deer hunting activities over the last two months. This refined method of surveying enables the hunters to provide an accurate recollection of their activities, ensuring the survey results are 95% accurate.

As a result of this survey, an estimated 137,000 wild deer were harvested in 2023. This is an increase of 11% from the 2022 harvest estimate of 124,000.

Sambar deer were the most harvested species, with an estimated harvest of 106,500 deer and a 53% female bias. The second most harvested species was fallow deer, with an estimated harvest of 27,500 and a 59% female bias.

Most deer hunting was done on public land (52%), underpinning the value of the ADA’s advocacy work to fight for and maintain access.

There are now 52,321 licenced deer hunters, reflecting an increase of 3.6% from 2022. The most popular hunting areas were around Mansfield, Licola, Omeo, Warragul, and Dargo, with the most deer harvested around Mansfield, Licola, Dargo, Omeo, and Benalla.

Alongside an increase in the number of hunters and harvest, the number of active hunters increased by 20% for the year, which helps explain an increase in the number of deer taken.