Feral Deer

327 The Hon. S.L. GAME ().7 February 2024). Can the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water advise:

1. What is the policy and procedure to follow up on the wounding of feral deer using the method of shotgun or rifle from helicopters, to ensure a kill?

2. What is the policy and procedure for removing feral deer carcasses from private properties and Crown land?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development has advised:

Wounding

The strict procedures followed by aerial shooting programs in Australia do not allow wounded animals to be left in the field.

Aerial shooting programs in Australia must abide by the 'National Code of Practice for the Effective and Humane Management of Feral and Wild Deer. Australia' and the 'National Standard Operating Procedure: Aerial Shooting of Feral and Wild Deer.'

The code of practice outlines humane control strategies and their implementation, while standard operating procedures describe control techniques, their application, and strategies to minimise any harmful impacts. The national COP and SOPs comprise model guidelines that set minimum animal welfare standards.

PIRSA programs always include a thermographer as a separate role in the helicopter. The thermographer uses a military grade thermal camera to identify and locate feral deer, and to confirm when they are dead. Thermal equipment also improves the visibility of shot deer, including under vegetated canopies, enabling rapid delivery of follow-up shots as part of a minimum two-shot policy for each culled deer. The use of thermal equipment also provides immediate and detailed motion and heat signals to confirm death.

Removing carcasses

Neither the code of practice nor the standard operating procedure for aerial cull of feral deer have any requirements for the removal of carcasses.

I am advised that the GPS location is recorded for every feral deer that is culled, and if farmers want the GPS data, staff from landscape boards or PIRSA send the data soon after the helicopter lands. This allows farmers to either harvest the venison to feed their working dogs or to dispose of the carcasses elsewhere.

Some of the carcasses are also recovered by PIRSA staff, who remove the venison for use as baits in the government-led program to eradicate wild dogs from pastoral areas of the state. Each year, that program turns several tonnes of meat into wild dog baits, and so the use of venison for baits is another win-win for pest management programs. I am advised that pastoralists in the north of South Australia appreciate this support from their colleagues in our agricultural districts.

However, in most cases, feral deer are shot in terrain that is steep and/or densely vegetated. Vehicles cannot access many of these areas, and as a result, most carcasses are left to naturally decompose.

I am advised that most farmers are happy to leave the carcasses to naturally decompose where they are shot.