Roaring helicopters armed with military grade thermal imaging and semi-automatic shotguns aim to destroy any deer in their path.

Thousands of animal’s bodies are left to rot in the aftermath. Sometimes people on the ground fear for their lives and the welfare of their livestock.

These and other serious concerns about the State Government’s feral deer eradication program were aired at a Naracoorte public meeting where “a number of major flaws” were highlighted by farmers, hunters and campers.

There was standing room only on February 3 as more than 300 people crowded into the Naracoorte Town Hall – men, women, and children. Prior to the meeting, many enjoyed a free barbecue on the Smith St footpath.

“Someone is going to get shot,” several feared.

Most supported “certain fractions” of the feral deer control program.

“But certainly not the multimillion – dollar cost incurred by tax payers,” organiser Jake Nicholson said.

Another issue was farmers being stripped of their rights to choose their own pest control methods. Farmers at the meeting wanted to shoot animals themselves, ensuring it was done “safely and humanely”.

With venison selling for $45kg in some butcher shops, participants wanted meat and antlers utilised rather than left rotting in paddocks. Some highlighted governments had been unable to eradicate other feral animals. Feral cats, rabbits, foxes, camels, donkeys, buffalo, goats, cane toads had never been eradicated in Australia.

“People are not against the control of deer,” emphasised Mr Nicholson, a small business operator and recreational hunter on his own family’s farm as well as other properties.

“The hunting community understands the need for deer to be controlled appropriately.

“Programs which respect landowner’s rights and allow the most suitable practices to be selected are what need to be acceptable in the future.

“We want to make sure it is done safely, humanely and resourcefully, creating a balance that includes the hunting community.”

Lives at risk

Mr Nicholson organised the meeting “for a number of reasons”. One was people fearing for their lives. Initially, a young person had “reached out” to him with a haunting experience.

“A deer culling helicopter operating on a property without permission of the landowner, left him and his close friend fearing and running for their lives,” Mr Nicholson said.

He soon became aware of others with similar horrifying experiences after starting an online petition, attracting more than 8200 signatures.

Nine resolutions resulted from the Naracoorte meeting:

• Respecting rights of landowners and managers to choose pest control methods compatible with their farming practices, and aerial culling being optional.
• Ensure hunters, landholders and all bush users are safe during control program timeframes. Programs to be properly managed, avoiding further incidents. The autumn aerial culling program on private land/property to be rescheduled to recognise the increase of hunter presence.
• The aerial shotgun culling program does not recommence unless non-toxic shot is used and the shell catcher is developed and operational. Thus, avoiding unnecessary animal suffering.
• The deer farming/keeping industry be recognised as a legitimate agricultural industry and have practical standards to encourage future investment and growth.
• The hunting/farming community recognises the need for the control of wild deer and does not oppose it. When landowners are willing to participate, a revised aerial culling program is an appropriate method in the future.
• That wild deer be utilised wherever practicable as the valuable resource they are, and not left to rot and cause further issues in our bush and farm land.
• That any poisoning of large mammals is not in line with community standards.
• The deer hunting community be consulted to improve and increase engagement with the government and opposition to create and implement new policies regarding control of wild deer within the SA landscape.
• That a public land recreational hunting program be developed following the NSW and Vic models, with its economic, social and environmental benefits to be addressed.

Shadow minister explains in parliament

Shadow Primary Industries minister Nicola Centofanti MLC, Ben Hood MLC and Member for Barker Tony Pasin attended the meeting and slammed the State Government afterwards via social media.

In state parliament Ms Centofanti explained communities were not against controlling deer numbers or the use of aerial culling “if it is carried out safely and humanely”.

“But what they are against is being forced to take part in the aerial culling program, being forced out of their properties for days at a time, sometimes for up to two weeks, and being forced to sign agreements which stipulate that they are liable for any other person or the public entering their properties during this time.”

She described as “incredibly disturbing” the reports of bullying and intimidation by the government towards landowners who did not want to participate.

“To force landowners to sign up to aerial culling by threatening individuals with Action Orders and promising to send them a bill to perform the aerial cull is not a choice,” she said.

Landscape board defends program

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board says it has the support and permission to conduct aerial shooting from over 100 landowners in the region.

The board estimates 24,000 deer are in the region and claims they can be eradicated.

Regarding fears “someone will get shot”, board engagement and communications officer Lydia Mules said the board obtained permission from landowners.

“Property owners and neighbouring landholders are notified of any upcoming shoot operations and are advised to inform any staff, tenants, or visitors to their properties of the aerial shooting operations,” Ms Mules said.

“Shoot operations are run to strict safety protocols and are undertaken by an experienced and professional team.”

Ms Mules said the board budgeted $385,624 to spend on the program during the 2023-24 financial year. She said feral deer “could cost” primary producers in the Limestone Coast “up to $242 million in the next decade if further control action is not taken”.

“The feral deer eradication program supports the legislated requirement to destroy all feral deer,” Ms Mules said.

“Most landholders across the Limestone Coast are meeting their obligations under the Act to destroy all feral deer found on their property.”

Ms Mules said aerial shooting was the only method available to access remote, heavily vegetated areas to achieve eradication of feral deer.

“The use of shotguns has improved animal welfare outcomes. They reduce time-to-death and pursuit times. No evidence has been provided to the LC Landscape Board in support of claims of animal welfare issues,” she said.

“Audits of the program are routinely conducted and flights are recorded. At times these have involved deer hunters. No animal welfare concerns have been found.”

Regarding bodies being left to rot creating biosecurity issues such as breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses, flies, foxes, and feral cats Ms Mules explained in detail some landowners were given the GPS locations so they could bury the bodies.

“Carcases decay quickly, and with the volume of carcases, a long term food supply for scavengers is not possible,” she said.

“Culling feral deer from the landscape in large numbers from helicopters allows farmers to grow more crops and raise more livestock, hence the focus is on removing feral deer as quickly and humanely as possible, in a safe manner.”

State Government responds

The State Government issued a statement claiming the SA Liberal Party “has waged a war against the State’s farmers”, and criticised Liberal politicians including Ms Centofanti, and Mr Hood who attended the meeting.

“The Malinauskas State Government has continued eradication efforts and as of January 2024 over 11,000 feral deer have been culled across South Australia including over 6,000 in the Limestone Coast.”

Deputy Premier Susan Close said the feral deer culling program was approved by former Environment Minister David Speirs.

Primary Industries minister Clare Scriven urged Ms Centofanti to “stop waging a war with Limestone Coast farmers …”

“I have written to (Opposition leader) David Speirs to bring this important issue to his attention and urge him to counsel his shadow minister about joining with a minor party NSW MP to undermine the deer culling policy and failing to stand up for our hardworking farmers.” 

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.