Biodiversity Recovery Alliance

Deer Control Program

Working together for a connected, resilient landscape

The Granite to Goulburn Biodiversity Recovery Alliance Deer Control Program supports landholders to work together to manage the impacts of feral deer across the Granite to Goulburn region, with a particular focus on protecting biodiversity and supporting recovery following the January 2026 Longwood East bushfires.

Deer can place additional pressure on recovering bushland, regenerating vegetation, threatened species habitat and riparian corridors. Their impacts do not stop at property boundaries, making isolated control efforts less effective when deer can move between neighbouring properties, public reserves and connected habitat.

The Deer Control program is about landscape connectivity; connecting landholders, coordinating practical action and protecting the ecological links that help our landscape recover and thrive.

By building relationships between neighbouring landholders and encouraging a coordinated approach to deer management, the program aims to reduce deer impacts in priority areas and support healthier, more resilient ecosystems across the wider landscape.

The program recognises that every property is different. Landholders can contribute by monitoring deer activity, recording observations, sharing relevant information with neighbouring properties and exploring appropriate, lawful control options. Where feasible, coordinated control across participating properties can help achieve more meaningful outcomes than individual efforts undertaken in isolation.

Information and resources for landholders

Choosing a deer control operator is an important decision involving safety, legal responsibilities, insurance and the suitability of the proposed approach for your property. This website provides information to help landholders understand deer management options and undertake their own due diligence before engaging a shooter or professional pest management operator as well as information about deer identification and monitoring.

The resources are intended to help you ask the right questions, check relevant credentials and insurance, clarify responsibilities and understand how proposed control activities will be carried out. The program provides information and opportunities for connection; it does not constitute an endorsement of any individual shooter or operator.

Effective deer management starts with informed landholders and a coordinated landscape approach.

By working together, sharing knowledge and making considered decisions, we can help protect important habitat connections and give our recovering landscapes the best opportunity to regenerate.