Feral deer

What does it look like?

There are three main species of deer present in the Hawke’s Bay region: Red deer, Sika deer, and Fallow deer. There are seven species of deer of deer present in New Zealand with Sambar deer, White-Tailed deer, Rusa deer and Wapiti being present in other parts of the country.

Red deer are the largest of the three species in Hawke’s Bay, with a reddish-brown coat in summer that is greyish brown in winter, occasionally with white spots around the spine. The tail is short and light red brown.

Sika deer are one of the few deer species that do not lose their spots upon reaching maturity. Coat colour is red brown in summer and brown in winter. The tail is long, with a distinct white rump patch surrounding the tail. Fallow deer are the most variable of any deer species in New Zealand with four quite distinctive colour phases. The most common colour is a brown-black back with a paler grey-brown underside and neck. They may have spots sometimes. The tail is long, black and/or white.

Detailed information can be found in The Handbook of New Zealand Mammals by C.M King and D.M Forsyth.

Why is it a problem?

Deer species like red, sika, and fallow deer are considered pests due to their browsing habits, which can damage native vegetation and disrupt habitats. Deer are selective browsers and target particular species preferentially, in both native and exotic forests. This can result in significant changes to forest composition and has effects on the fauna that rely on those plants.

Intensive browsing can destroy much of the forest understorey and strip bark from trees, impacting plant biodiversity. Stags thrashing and rubbing with their antlers also damage vegetation, both exotic and indigenous. These behaviours combined with soil trampling, compaction and wallowing contribute to soil erosion. Feral deer will damage restoration plantings, and in high numbers can damage feed crops and graze large amounts of pasture, thereby reducing agricultural production.

Feral deer are a known vector of Bovine Tb, a disease which threatens the agricultural industry.

In urban areas near bush, deer may enter properties, damaging gardens, and disturbing residents and domestic pets. Deer on private property can attract unwanted attention and hunting interest, encouraging trespass.

The Wild Animal Control (WAC) Act defines deer (including wapiti or moose) that are not held behind effective fences or otherwise constrained; are not identified in accordance with an animal identification device approved under the National Animal Identification and Tracing Act 2012 or in accordance with an identification system approved under section 50 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and approved by the Director-General for the purposes of the WAC Act, as wild animals.

Control methods

• We actively manage pest animals at selected sites, including deer, to protect native ecosystems and biodiversity. Feral deer are listed as a site-led pest under the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Regional Pest Management Plan 2018-2038.
• We encourage community participation in pest control efforts. Joining local groups can be an effective way to contribute to the management of pest populations. Local Deerstalkers organisations run training and are sometimes asked to help control deer numbers on private land. Belonging to these types of clubs provides opportunities to get involved.
• The Department of Conservation (DOC) issues hunting permits for the Kaweka and Ruahine Forest Parks as well as Stoney Creek and Tarawera Conservation Areas.

CAUTION: A VALID NEW ZEALAND GUN LICENSE IS REQUIRED UNDER NEW ZEALAND LAW FOR ANY USE OF FIREARMS.

Crown-owned land

• DOC manage feral deer on DOC-managed conservation sites. DOC have also set up a Wild Animal Management National Coordination Group which includes a number of organisations and groups to prioritise and coordinate effective wild animal management.

Related links

• DOC hunting permit applications
• NZ Deerstalkers Association
• NZ Game Animal Council
• Wild Animal Control Act
• Hawkes Bay Regional Pest Management Plan 2018-2038