Introduction
Fallow (Dama dama) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) are declared pests under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) in Western Australia (WA).
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) assists in preventing the establishment of deer in the wild. This means a permit is required to keep fallow and red deer in WA. Animals that escape or become feral must be recaptured or destroyed.
All other deer species are prohibited from keeping under the BAM Act.
Small populations of feral deer occur in WA as a result of escaped captive stock and from deliberate release. Deer damage native plants, crops and plantation trees and have a role in the transmission of exotic livestock diseases.
Requirements for the keeping of deer have been framed to safeguard agriculture, the natural environment and the public while minimising restrictions on the deer industry. Deer need different stock management techniques and facilities to sheep and cattle. It is strongly recommended that applicants seek specialist advice before applying for a permit to keep deer and before building any facilities.
Individuals wishing to keep deer at a particular place must apply for a permit before they obtain the animals. However, a permit will only be issued when DPIRD is satisfied (by inspection) that an applicant is able to provide adequate conditions for the safe and secure keeping of deer.
Applicants should also be aware of requirements of other relevant acts and codes of practice associated with animal welfare requirements.
Permits covering the keeping of deer for commercial production (for venison, velvet and skins) and/or for display purposes at a wildlife park or at an agricultural show may have some differing conditions.
Permit conditions
Changes in permit details
Conditions of a permit to kee red or fall deer apply to all permit holders. The permit is issued to a particular person (not a business name) for keeping particular deer species at a particular location and for a specified period. That is, the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Regulations 2013 require an expiry date to be included on the permit. If there are changes to these details, DPIRD must be informed to avoid the permit becoming invalid.
Note: this includes extensions to the amount of deer fencing erected on a property - any new fencing must be approved by inspection to ensure it will prevent animals escaping.
Handling yard specifications
Deer do not handle as easily as other stock, but they need to be collected into handling areas for certain husbandry tasks and for marking. A suitable yard, a handling pen and a loading race must be built within the confines of the boundary fences as detailed below.
It is recommended that the yards have the following features:
- walls at least 2.1 m high, with at least the lower 1m closely boarded
- a purpose-built handling pen
- no iron sheeting as this can be noisy and frightening to deer
- no sharp projections
- a central crush pen.
A crush must either be present on the property, available for hire when needed or a vet or other authorised person must be readily available to administer chemical immobilising agents when required. A crush is needed to handle deer, with a drop floor type suitable for fallow and a hydraulic crush best for red deer.
Yards should be centrally located for ease of stock movement. Paddocks should be serviced by a wide laneway system to allow movement between paddocks and yards. It is also strongly recommended that deer are handled regularly so that when handling is required, they will not be stressed.
Boundary fence specifications
Fencing specifications are required to prevent deer escaping the property, and may minimise risk of predation.
Gates
Gates must be closed at all times to prevent escape. In some situations, DPIRD may require a double-gate system to be installed. All gates must be at least 2 metres from the ground to the top of the gate.
Fence line
The fence line must be kept sufficiently clear of trees to prevent damage caused by falling trees or branches.
Fence height
A boundary fence must be at least 2m from ground level to the top. This may need to be increased where there is high ground inside, within 3m of the fence. It is recommended that there is a 2-metre clear buffer between the fence and any tree line.
Wire
Fabricated mesh for boundary fencing for all types of deer is specified as 17/190/15 or 13/190/30 for red deer only. Two lengths of livestock ring lock placed one on top of the other is acceptable; so long as the dimensions of the fence are equivalent to 17/190/15, there is considerable overlap, and the lengths are joined by a continuous threaded wire. There should be no protrusions that could cause injuries. The wire should be attached to the inside of the perimeter fence posts where possible.
Strainer posts and assemblies
Strainer posts and assemblies can be made of steel, hardwood or treated pine of appropriate dimensions and should be heavy duty and well-stayed.
The strainer assembly must be sunk to a depth and built to specifications recommended by the netting manufacturer. However it is recommended that strainers be sunk not less than 1m into the ground; in certain soils (e.g. sand) the depth should be greater. The strainer assembly itself should be around 3.6m long. It is also recommended that the maximum distance between strainers be 150m.
Line post spacing
Line posts should be no more than 20m apart. If the posts are 15m apart, 1 half-height line post must be placed within each 15m span.
In undulating terrain line posts should be no more than 10m apart.
Pegging down and stoning
The bottom line wire must be fastened with pegs securely anchored in the ground or alternatively a barbed wire can be used along the bottom of the fence. In undulating areas the fence must be pegged at the bottom. Only steel, hardwood or treated timber pegs should be used. In heavy soil the pegs must penetrate at least 40cm, in light ground at least 75cm.
Where the fence line crosses waterways and erosion-prone areas, stones or other appropriate material must protect it.
Fence and yard maintenance
The approved fencing and yards must be maintained so that they remain effective at all times in preventing the escape of deer and are safe for the animals, for those attending them and for the public.
Loss of deer
It is illegal to free deer and there is a legal obligation on all those holding deer to prevent them escaping.
There is also an obligation on the permit holder to immediately report to DPIRD the escape or theft of deer held under permit.
It is illegal to release or abandon a declared pest that is kept under the authority of a permit and a person keeping deer has a legal obligation to prevent animals escaping. Under regulation 22 of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Regulations 2013 the penalty for knowingly releasing a declared pest is a fine of $ 20,000.
Record keeping
DPIRD will request from each permit holder an annual stocktake of the species and number of deer obtained and disposed of each year. Inspections will be undertaken on properties where a stocktake form has not been returned within the month. Those to whom deer have been sold (apart from abattoirs and persons outside WA) must be listed. This collected information is confidential.
Deer can only be disposed of to a person holding a current permit for deer unless the animals are being sent to an abattoir for slaughter or exported interstate or overseas.
Identification and movement
Identification of livestock is required by law under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (Identification and Movement of Stock and Apiaries) Regulations 2013. It assists owners by deterring theft, recovering stolen animals and tracing diseases. Property trace-back is necessary to satisfy legislative requirements for stock destined for markets. If animals are not marked, permits to keep them will not be issued or renewed.
Deer must be transported according to the requirements of the regulations and a waybill must accompany deer anytime they are moved from a property. Waybills are used to show that deer being transported have not been stolen and to provide a means of trace-back in the event of an exotic disease outbreak. Owners selling animals must complete a waybill and a copy supplied to the purchaser and the carrier.
Other documentation covering health and fibre length requirements and quarantine certification is required for interstate and overseas imports. For health purposes, prior written approval from the DPIRD Inspector in Charge (Stock) is required to import deer to the Liver Fluke Restricted Area (the south-west) of WA.
The identification required for deer may be all or any one of the following:
- the registered brand impressed on an approved ear tag applied to the ear specified on the PIC card
- the registered earmark applied to the ear specified on the PIC card or
- an approved electronic tag (ID system).
Deer must be identified at the first muster before they reach 12 months of age or before they are moved from the property, whichever occurs first.
Deer under 12 months of age can move without identification if accompanied by their legally identified mother and movement is to another property with the same PIC.
Deer that have registered identifiers of the previous owner do not require additional identification if the present owner has proof of the purchase.
Further information about the methods for marking deer, contact the Stock office at DPIRD, Bunbury on (08) 9780 6207 or email brands@agric.wa.gov.au.
When the conditions are no longer being met
When the conditions of a permit are no longer being met and facilitation has failed to achieve the required standards or failed to result in the disposal of the animals, there is provision for the following actions to be taken under the BAM Act:
- A Pest Keeping Notice may be issued to the permit holder, requiring them to upgrade the conditions to the required standards; and if they do not do so, they will be invoiced for the work done to bring the enclosure or animals back to the permit standards (arranged by DPIRD).
- A Pest Control Notice may be issued to the permit holder to destroy or dispose of the animals and if they do not, the animals may be removed or destroyed by the department.
- The permit is revoked and the animals are immediately removed; otherwise the keeper is in breach of the BAM Act.
Obtaining a permit
Those wishing to keep Red or Fallow deer should complete an application to keep a declared pest. The application form is available to download from Permits, applications and fees or use the link on the right of this page.
A site map should accompany the application form. This should show the dimensions and materials for the enclosure where the animals will be kept, including the area in hectares, and any natural features of the site on which the enclosure will be built (water courses, trees).
Proof of approval from the local government authority must accompany the application. It is the applicant's responsibility to inform other government agencies of the proposal to keep deer.
The site must be inspected before any construction commence. A local Biosecurity Officer will carry out a property inspection to ensure that fencing is not erected in places where it may be affected by extremes of the weather, ground type or overhanging trees; so allowing deer to escape.
A permit will be issued after a final inspection to check that all required conditions have been met. The permit will specify the species of deer and the number to be kept, and may specify deer gender, age, reproductive condition and other details.
Importing animals link. Email completed form to ISPermit@dpird.wa.gov.au or mail to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Locked Bag 4 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983.