Deer hunting methods

The following are the minimum legal requirements for firearm, bow, and crossbow equipment when hunting for deer in Victoria.

Under the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2024, hunters are permitted to use deer decoys to assist in hunting deer. Deer decoys must be painted or fixed with a fluorescent orange colour that is highly visible on the heart, lungs or torso of the deer of a cumulative area no smaller than 0.25 square metres.

Under the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2024, hunters can use a hand-held thermo-imaging device during the day (i.e. 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset). These devices must be hand-held only and cannot be fitted to the firearm or a fixture attached to the firearm. Thermal rifle scopes must not be used when attached to a fiream.

Hunters can use the hand-held thermo-imaging device to help locate and identify deer in the field. Hunters must then put aside the thermo-imagining device, ensure that they have positively identified their target and that there are no other people, animals or property/assets in the direction of fire before shooting.

It is unsafe to identify a target by its thermal properties alone; hunters must ensure they positively identify their target and what's behind it and are encouraged to use other tools such as binoculars. A hand-held thermo-imaging device alone is not an acceptable way to identify a target, especially in thick vegetation.

Safe target identification is solely the responsibility of the hunter. If in doubt, don’t shoot.

Hunting Deer with Gundogs or Deer hunting dogs

Hunters may use a trained dog to help them locate, flush, point, or trail deer. Dogs can be of particular use when locating downed animals that could be lost. Hunters must be able to train their dog(s) to a level that allows the dog to complete its hunting task without chasing other animals and/or attacking the deer being hunted.

• Dogs can be used only on land classifications that permit people to be in possession of dogs (e.g. dogs cannot be taken into National Parks).

• Hog Deer cannot be hunted with the aid of dogs.

• However, all other deer species can be hunted with the aid of gundogs or approved deer hunting dogs.

• Deer hunters cannot hunt with more than two gundogs or deer hunting dogs, individually or with a team of hunters.

Hunting Sambar Deer with hounds

• Deer hunters must have an endorsement on their Game Licence to be allowed to hunt with hounds.

• Hound hunting is seasonal, with the season starting on 1 April each year and ending on 30 November.

• When Easter falls within the season, hound hunting is closed from the Thursday before Easter until the Thursday after Easter, inclusive.

In Victoria, Hog Deer hunting is permitted under strict regulations to ensure the species is hunted sustainably.

Hog Deer are a highly valued game species, and bag limits are set to allow hunters to take one male and one female Hog Deer per season.

The Hog Deer season is open only in the month of April each year (i.e. 1–30 April).

Before hunting Hog Deer, hunters must obtain Hog Deer tags from the Game Management Authority. Each hunter is issued two tags: one male and one female. These tags are issued to a hunter and cannot be lent or sold, and can only be used in the season they were obtained.

When a Hog Deer is taken, the Hog Deer tag must be immediately attached to the hind leg.

You cannot possess a Hog Deer without the tag being attached. Tags cannot be removed until details have been recorded at a checking station. Checking stations have been established to monitor the take of Hog Deer and provide information on the health of the Hog Deer population.

All harvested Hog Deer must be presented to a checking station within 24 hours of being taken.

At a checking station, hunters will be asked to produce their Game Licence, and details are recorded.

The harvested deer will have shoulder height, girth, length, and weight recorded. Stags will have the antlers measured and photographed. The reproductive condition of hinds will be recorded. Samples may also be taken; this includes the removal of the jaw bone for ageing purposes.

Completed Hog Deer tag return forms must be sent to the Game Management Authority within 28 days of the last day of the open season.

There are balloted Hog Deer hunting opportunities which occur outside the April season (usually February, March, and May) and in areas where hunting is usually prohibited. Currently these areas are Blond Bay State Game Reserve, Boole Poole Peninsula within Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park, and Snake Island within Nooramunga Marine Coastal Park.

The ballot is administered by the Blond Bay Hog Deer Advisory Group.

Spotlights in Recognised Deer Habitat

There are laws that require you to store or carry firearms, ammunition and spotlights in a particular way when you are in or travelling through recognised deer habitat 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.  The requirements are different if you are in a vehicle or on foot.

For detailed information on the boundaries of these areas, visit: https://www.viccouncils.asn.au/find-your-council/council-map

Under the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2024, if a person shoots a deer and it is alive after being struck, the person must make all reasonable efforts to immediately dispatch that deer.