The Game Management Authority last week released the Estimates of the 2023 deer harvest in Victoria report.
Results show an estimated 137,090 deer were harvested in 2023. This is a 11 per cent increase on the estimated 123,400 deer harvested in 2022 and a 59 per cent increase on the long-term average (86,400).
Sambar Deer were the most harvested species with an estimated harvest of 106,500 deer, of which 53 per cent were female. Fallow Deer were the second most harvested species, with an estimated harvest of 27,500 deer, of which 59 per cent were female.
The number of licenced recreational deer hunters in 2023 was 52,321, an increase of 3.6 per cent from 2022 (50,478).
Of the 52,321 licensed deer hunters, 60 per cent actively hunted in 2023. On average, active deer hunters harvested an estimated 4.3 deer over 10.5 days.
The most popular hunting areas were around the towns of Omeo, Dargo, Mansfield, Licola and Warragul. The highest number of deer harvested were around the towns of Dargo, Omeo, Mansfield, Licola and Benalla.
GMA research principal, Dr Jason Flesch, said the research was based on information gathered from randomly selected licenced deer hunters who voluntarily participated in the phone surveys.
“Throughout 2023, approximately 2400 licenced 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.
