Deer Research

The GMA has engaged the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research to conduct research into how recreational hunting contributes to deer control in Victoria. The research involves a comparison study at three locations in the east of Victoria and a separate experimental study in the central west of Victoria.

For both the comparison and experimental study, data on the abundance and density of deer will be gathered at each site. Surveys will also measure the impact deer are having on vegetation at these sites.

This research is part of the Victorian Government’s Sustainable Hunting Action Plan (SHAP) 2021-2024 which commits to conducting research to help determine if recreational hunting contributes to deer control and can assist in managing deer populations.

The research will begin in September 2024 and conclude in 2027. Results of the research will be published in a technical report at the end of the project and submitted to a peer reviewed journal for publication.

Genetic analysis of Hog Deer in Victoria/Australia and its applications to invasive species and game management.

A recent study using genetic sequencing to estimate the population structure and diversity of Hog Deer in Victoria has confirmed that DNA can be used to map populations.

The findings come from a PhD project examining the genetics of hog deer in Victoria which was partly funded by the GMA.

The research aimed to investigate the population genetic structure and diversity of Hog Deer in Victoria and identify possible movement between populations.

A total of 231 hog deer tissue samples were collected from Hog Deer checking stations and field samples from hunters in Gippsland between 2008 and 2017. DNA was extracted to identify markers which could provide information on how individual deer genetically relate to each other to determine population diversity.

Results identified four distinct genetic clusters of deer and also provided evidence of recent translocations. Despite the low genetic diversity observed, the presence of distinct generic clusters across the Hog Deer range indicates population structure.

This research provides important insights into the genetic diversity of Hog Deer in Victoria and suggests that future management may need to consider genetics to support game management and pest animal objectives.

Development of an STR panel for a non-native population of an endangered species

The GMA co-funded researchers from La Trobe University to create a DNA finger printing method for Hog Deer. The method uses small repeated sequences of DNA to identify individual deer.

The methodology used in the research could also be applied to other studies where individual identification is required, including wildlife forensics, compliance and abundance estimation.

Kinship analysis reveals low dispersal in a Hog Deer (Axis porcinus) population in Wilsons Promontory National Park, Australia

The GMA co-funded and supported a study by La Trobe University to investigate Hog Deer population dispersal across Wilsons Promontory National Park (WPNP) using genetics.

DNA was extracted from tissue samples collected from Hog Deer culled during control operations. The DNA analysis allowed researchers to determine how genetically related the Hog Deer were to each other.

Results showed, family groups were not widely dispersed , suggesting their movement was approximately 5–10 km across the study area.

Researchers also found no evidence of sex-biased dispersal. The study concluded that Hog Deer in WPNP are genetically similar and there is limited dispersal across the study area. This suggests that recolonisation of Hog Deer or establishment in new areas is likely to be infrequent.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Axis porcinus (Mammalia: Cervidae) from Victoria, Australia, using MiSeq sequencing

The GMA co-funded and supported researchers from La Trobe University to sequence the mitochondrial genome of Hog Deer from Victoria.

This study used next generation sequencing technology to sequence DNA extracted from Hog Deer liver samples collected from Sunday Island in Victoria.

The study also found that Hog Deer shared a 99.8 percent similarity with Chital Deer, a level of similarity that is higher than that observed between individuals of the same species. This study identified the need for further research to understand the similarity between Victorian Hog Deer and Chital Deer.

Widespread hybridisation in the introduced hog deer population of Victoria, Australia, and it’s implications for conservation

The GMA co-funded and supported a study to assess the genetic variation in the Victorian Hog Deer population.

Tissue samples were collected during the hunting seasons from 2015 to 2017 and supplied to researchers for DNA extraction and sequencing.

The study identified that Victorian Hog Deer have hybridised with Chital Deer, despite Chital Deer being no longer present in the wild in Victoria. The study also showed that Victorian Hog Deer population have very low genetic diversity.

A recent study of Hog Deer shot during deer management programs at Wilsons Promontory National Park shows lead-based bullets pose a higher risk to wildlife scavengers and human consumers than lead-free bullets.

The GMA and researchers from the University of Melbourne used radiography (x-rays) to examine the carcasses of Hog Deer shot with both frangible lead-based bullets and monolithic lead-free (copper-based) bullets. X-rays were used to identify the total number of bullet fragments, the size of the fragments and the fragment ‘coverage area’. The presence or absence of bullet fragments in the loin (backstrap) and shoulder of the deer was also recorded to help assess the risk to human consumers.

The results showed Hog Deer shot with lead-based ammunition had an average of 256 lead fragments per carcass with a mean fragment size of 1.2mm², 36 per cent had metallic fragments in the backstrap and 42 per cent had fragments in the shoulder muscle. The Hog Deer shot with lead-free ammunition had minimal fragments in the carcass, with an average of 0.5 metallic fragments per carcass and 29 per cent of carcasses with any fragments. No Hog Deer shot with lead-free ammunition had metallic fragments in the backstrap or shoulder muscles.

This study provides evidence that lead-based bullets pose a risk to wildlife scavengers and humans who consume meat from shot animals. Due to the toxicity of lead, the study recommends that wildlife managers and recreational hunters consider a timely transition to lead-free bullets.

For the full report, visit: the Environmental Management and Restoration ecology journal.