Deer

In Victoria, license can be obtained for recreation game hunting of the following game species:

• Sambar Deer
• Hog Deer
• Red Deer
• Fallow Deer
• Chital Deer
  
• Rusa Deer
  

Game species are resilient to harvesting and able to adapt to extreme and unpredictable environmental conditions. They occur in relatively large numbers, have a high replacement potential, mature quickly and can breed at an early age, have high rates of turnover, are fast escapers and are very wary in nature.

Sambar Deer

Source: Bruce Parnall

Sambar were introduced to Victoria mainly from Sri Lanka with a smaller number coming from India in 1860s. Sambar Deer are the most successful and widespread of the deer species introduced into Victoria and are considered to be a prime game animal.

Sambar are the largest of Australia's wild deer and the third largest of all deer species behind moose and wapiti. They have a thick hide, coarse brown hair and a mature stag can stand up to 130cm at the shoulder and weigh over 300kg.

Hog Deer

Hog deer were introduced to Victoria from Sri Lanka and India in 1865. They are the smallest of Australia’s six deer species.

A mature hog deer stag stands about 70cm at the shoulder and weighs approximately 50kg.

Red Deer

Red deer are natives of Europe, Asia and parts of North Africa and have thrived in Australia since their release in the mid-1800s. They are the second largest of Australia's six deer species. A mature stag stands about 120cm at the shoulder and can weigh between 135kg and 160kg.

Fallow Deer

Fallow deer are native to parts of Europe, Spain and north-west Africa and were released in Australia around 1830. Mature fallow deer stand around 90cm at the shoulder and weigh around 90kg. Their coat varies from the common or 'red' fallow deer, through the black and creamy white.