In 1980, there were about 50,000 feral deer in Australia and by 2002 the population was estimated to have grown to 200,000. Now, the population is likely to have reached more than 2 million.

Saying it’ll be the “next rabbit” etc.

Knew we had them, never knew they were becoming such a huge pest.

  • eureka@aussie.zoneEnglish
    6·
    2 days ago

    In Victoria, they only want to hunt deer “sustainably”, so they have recognised “Deer Habitats”.

    I say this without context, but this just sounds absurd. They’re an invasive and destructive species, right? To sustain native wildlife, we don’t want to sustain the deer population.

    • Mountaineer@aussie.zoneEnglish
      5·
      2 days ago

      Regulatory Capture.
      The government didn’t want to be in charge of this, so they’ve offloaded the responsibility (and the power) to a private organisation, in this case the Game Management Authority.
      The GMA aren’t all bad, they are also a primary driver behind the protection of native waterways (that just coincidentally happen to be duck shooting spots).
      As a shooter, I have complex opinions about groups like the GMA and SSAA that theoretically exist for my benefit.

      • Dimand@aussie.zoneEnglish
        2·
        1 day ago

        I stopped giving SSAA any of my money. I don’t agree with most of their political lobbying stances, especially for reducing requirements around accessing firearms and legalising higher rate of fire guns.

        Hasn’t been any great loss.