The 2024 deer hunting season has seen a 22 per cent increase in harvest from 2023.

The Game Management Authority released the Estimates of the 2024 deer harvest in Victoria report last month.

Results showed an estimated 167,600 deer were harvested in 2024, a 22 per cent increase on the estimated 137,100 deer harvested in 2023 and an 83 per cent increase on the long-term average of 91,100.

Sambar deer were the most harvested species, with an estimated harvest of 128,000 deer, of which 60 per cent were female.

Fallow deer were the second most harvested species, with an estimated harvest of 35,400 deer, of which 58 per cent were female.

The number of licensed recreational deer hunters in 2024 was 52,098.

The number of deer hunters in Victoria has remained relatively steady since 2023, when there were 52,321 licensed deer hunters.

Of the 52,098 licensed deer hunters, 50 per cent actively hunted in 2024. On average, active deer hunters harvested an estimated 6.4 deer over 13.5 days.

The most popular hunting areas were around the towns of Mansfield, Bairnsdale, Omeo, Benalla and Eildon.

The highest number of deer harvested were around the towns of Mansfield, Bairnsdale, Benalla, Yarram and Omeo.

GMA research principal Jason Flesch said the research was based on information gathered from randomly selected licensed deer hunters who voluntarily participated in the phone surveys.

“Throughout 2024, about 2400 licensed deer hunters were surveyed about their hunting activity including how many deer were harvested, where hunting occurred, hunting methods used and the species of deer harvested,” Dr Flesch said.

“This research helps build a stronger understanding of deer harvest trends and hunting activity in Victoria.”

The report is produced annually by the GMA in collaboration with the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research.

Read the full report at tinyurl.com/48rybjhu

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Wednesday, 9th February 2028

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