https://pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/introd...ication_program

South Australian Feral Deer Eradication Program
Landholders are responsible for culling feral deer on their properties under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019.

South Australia is undertaking an eradication program to assist landholders and to eliminate the impacts feral deer have on primary industries, the environment and public safety.

There are about 40,000 feral deer in South Australia, with populations abundant in:

the Limestone Coast Landscape Board region
the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board region.
We aim to eradicate feral deer by 2032. At least 34 percent of the population of fallow deer must be culled each year to avoid population increase.

Learn more in the Feral Deer Economic Analysis (PDF 1.3 MB (PDF 1.3 MB) prepared by BDO Econsearch.

Detecting feral deer
The program uses military-grade thermal imaging to cull feral deer in paddocks and in densely vegetated environments. This equipment takes advantage of the heat signature of feral deer to detect them.

See the thermal imagery in action:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F8tVjZ8SBFo

Program standards
The program operates under the Code of Practice (COP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

These revised national standards were informed by research on the use of thermal imaging equipment and shotguns to cull deer:

Cost-effective management of wild deer – Centre for Invasive Species Solutions
Aerial culling feral fallow deer with shotguns – Flinders University (PDF 4.6 MB).
Partnerships
The program is implemented in partnership with:

the Australian Government
regional landscape boards
the Department for Environment and Water
primary production industries.
Contact
Biosecurity SA – Invasive Species Unit
Phone:
Email: PIRSA.InvasiveSpecies etc