Deer hunting season open

The opening of the 2021 Tasmanian deer hunting season today provides many Tasmanian hunters and shooters the opportunity to pursue an important tradition and way of life.

We recognise recreational hunters also help manage wild fallow deer populations on both private and public land.

The 2021 deer game season has two parts –

an adult male (buck) component and antlerless (doe) component. The buck season opens on 27 February and runs until 4 April 2021, and the antlerless deer season is from 15 March to 15 November 2021.

During the 2021 season, hunting can occur on all private land with permission of the landholder as well as being authorised in the following reserves:

*Great Western Tiers Conservation Area;

*Top Marshes Conservation Area;

*Five Mile Pinnacles Conservation Area;

*Central Plateau Conservation Area: Brenton Rivulet block (PWS) and Mother Lord Plains block (HT);

*Great Western Tiers Conservation Area: Parson & Clerk Mountain Block (PWS);

*Great Lake Conservation Area: Tumbledown Creek block (PWS) and land known as Gunns Marsh surrounding Gunns Lake and Little Lake (HT);

*Tooms Lake Conservation Area;

*Buxton River Conservation Area; and;

*Castle Cary Regional Reserve.

Since the stag season ballot closed, access to St Pauls reserve was discovered to be impassable so hunting will not be possible in this reserve.  Hunters assigned a ballot spot in this reserve have been contacted and offered an alternative for the 2022 season.

Game Services Tasmania staff have completed the adult male deer ballot and allocations have been published on the DPIPWE website.

The public land deer hunting ballot for the 2021 antlerless deer season is now open with a new online booking system in place.

For details about how to use the booking system, or to submit an application for an allocation, please go to www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/booking. Bookings close on 15 March 2021.

Successful hunters will receive their authorisations via email before the opening of these reserves for the antlerless season on 7 April 2021.

Game Licence holders are reminded to be vigilant in relation to personal safety and the safety of others as well as the importance of wearing a high visibility vest or hat. It is also important to respect the environment.

This includes adhering to COVID-safe behaviours while hunting. Hunters should maintain personal hygiene practices such as washing hands, staying at least 1.5 metres apart and stay at home if you are unwell.

Game Tracks is now available from Service Tasmania outlets and Game Services Tasmania.

For more information about the recreational deer hunting season visit www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/RGL