FERAL DEER ID ONLINE GUIDE

Help us prevent feral deer getting out of control in the Northern Rivers. Before it’s too late.

Report all deer sightings as soon as possible.

Report sightings using the FeralScan Pest Mapping App.
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If you can, include a photograph of the deer, the area and/or the scat (poo).

Click on the images below to find out more about how to identify feral deer species.

You can also download a copy of the Northern Rivers Feral Deer ID brochure.
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Deer image credit: Game Management Authority, Victoria and Local Land Services NSW.

Sambar Deer

Cervus Unicolor

Height

Male: up to 160cm, Female: up to 115cm

Weight

Male: 300kg, Female: 230kg

Antlers

Lyre-like, 3 tines per antler up to 70 cm.

Description

Prominent bat like ears with pale inner. Uniform dark brown coat with ginger andcream under-parts and light buff colour under chin. Uniform. Hair is very stiff and coarse.

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Distribution

Sambar Deer have serious environmental impacts and are spreading across much of NSW. They are likely to arrive in the Northern Rivers from the south.

Habitat & Herding

Sambar Deer are herbivores that graze on a wide range of grasses, shrubs and trees,depending on the season and availability of food
They are regarded as solitary animals and are almost never found in herds
They are semi-nocturnal and prefer to stay hidden during daylight
They can swim with their bodies fully submerged with only their head above water
September and October are their peak breeding season, but they can breed throughout the year.

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Red Deer

Cervus Elaphus

Height

Male: up to 120cm, Female: up to 90cm

Weight

Male: 135-220kg, Female: 95kg

Antlers

Multi-pointed coplex up to 90cm

Description

Large pale rump patch. Ears are normally long and pointed. Grey-brown in Winter. Reddish in colour during summer. Short tail. Calves have distinct white spots.

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Distribution

Red Deer are found in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. They can grow to three times the size of a red kangaroo and will pose significant risks on our roads if they become established the Northern Rivers.

Habitat & Herding

Red Deer prefer mixed grassland, rainforest and woodland areas
They may be seen in open areas but usually only when it’s close to thick, timbered vegetation
They mainlygraze on woody trees and shrubs as well as grasses, sedges and forbs
Red deer have a strong herding instinct and a highly developed social order
Breeding ismainly in April, and females give birth 8-9 months later in December or January
Males are only territorial during mating season and roar to attract females

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Rusa Deer

Cervus Timorensis

Height

Male: Up to 120cm, Female: Up to 90cm

Weight

Male: 135kg, Female: 90kg

Antlers

Antlers three lyre-like tines. Up to 96 cm

Description

Coat is coarse. Heavy dark grey-brown duringwinter. Reddish-brown during summer with light chest and throat spots.

Males have: Mane

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Distribution

In NSW Rusa are widely distributed along the NSW coast, Queensland and South Australia. Rusa Deer are likely to arrive from the north, west and south of our region.

Habitat & Herding

Rusa Deer are herbivores that graze on a wide range of grasses, shrubs and trees
They are often seen in small groups
They can breed all year round, and usually produce one calf between March and April
They can breed with Sambar Deer and produce fertile offspring
They can also breed with red deer, but only produce fertile female offspring
The male Rusa Deer often decorates their antlers with twigs and grass during the breeding season to establish dominance over other males

Hog Deer

Axis Porcinus

Height

Male: up to 70kg, Female: up to 60cm

Weight

Male: 55kg, Female: 30kg

Antlers

Usually three points on each side, thin up to 35 cm

Description

Uniform yellow-brown to red-brown coat. May have white spots in summer and a dark brown coat in winter. Underside is white/cream. Smallest deer species in Australia.

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Distribution

Known locations: Victoria and NSW

Habitat & Herding

The Hog Deer inhabit coastal tea-tree swamps
The hog deer is a herding animal
They like to graze at dawn and dusk
The males shed their antlers irregularly, but usually from August to October

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Chital Deer

Axis Axis

Height

Male: up to 95cm, Female: up to 80cm

Weight

Male: 60-100kg, Female: 40-50kg

Antlers

Flattened antlers up 50 cm with numerous points.

Description

Highly variable in colour including red, black,white and menil (spotted). Heart shaped palerump patch with black outline. Long tail.

Males have: Penile sheath, Adams apple

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Distribution

There are wild populations of Chital Deer in Queensland near Charters Towers, with other smaller isolated population in NSW. Range and densities are increasing from isolated pockets and deliberate release for hunting, which is causing significant impacts on farming communities already under stress. Chital Deer are likely to arrive from the north and west of our region.

Habitat & Herding

Chital deer are herbivores that graze on a variety of grasses, fruit and leaves
They can form herds of more than 100
They don’t have a defined breeding season, and they can produce up to three offspring in two years
They will eat their shed antlers if their diet is lacking vitamins and minerals
Females separate from the herd during birthing and rearing of their young

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Fallow Deer

Dama Dama

Height

Male: up to 95 cm, Female: up to 80cm

Weight

Male: 60-100kg, Female: 40-50kg

Antlers

Flattened antlers up 50 cm with numerous points.

Description

Highly variable in colour including red, black, white and menil (spotted). Heart shaped pale rump patch with black outline. Long tail.
Males have: Penile sheath, Adams apple.

Distribution

Fallow deer are the most widespread and established feral deer species in Australia. They are likely to arrive in the Northern Rivers from the north of our region.

Habitat & Herding

Fallow deer inhabit semi-open scrubland and graze on pasture that is close to cover
Fallow deer are a herd deer
They breed during April and May
Fawns are born in December
In rut, or breeding season, the buck makes an unmistakable croak, like a grunting pig
The calls vary from high pitched bleating to deep grunts

Why is feral deer identification so important?

Deer are not native animals to Australia. They were introduced in the 19th Century and there are now six species of feral deer in Australia.

There are currently four known feral deer species in the Northern Rivers, but our local habitats are suitable for all six species.

We have a window of opportunity to prevent their numbers getting out of control, and causing significant impacts on road safety, our environment and the livelihoods of our farmers.

We encourage you to try identifying the feral deer species you see, before you report it, but it doesn't matter if you can't. The most important thing is to report the sighting on Deer Scan, and send in a photo if you can.

Scats and tracks

Identifying deer scats and tracks can also help us monitor feral deer presence and numbers in The Northern Rivers.

Scats

Deer produce triangular (heart shaped) or oblong scats that may be deposited either singly or in clumps of pellets. Clumps of deer scat usually break down into separate pellets when they hit the ground. The size and form of scats may vary within and between different species of deer.

It’s easy to confuse deer scat with scat from animals like sheep and goats.

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Tracks

Deer tracks are generally more triangular than other animals like goats and sheep.

Distinguishing features

Two elongated toes make up the hoof
Slight gap between toes on both feet

Would you like us to send you a handy Feral Deer ID pocket guide?

Having information in your pocket, backpack or car will help you identify feral deer species. To get a copy, please join our Deer Watch program.

FERAL DEER ID ONLINE GUIDE

Sambar Deer

Red Deer

Rusa Deer

Hog Deer

Chital Deer

Fallow Deer

Why is feral deer identification so important?

Scats and tracks

Scats

Tracks

Would you like us to send you a handy Feral Deer ID pocket guide?

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