Deer hunting expanded in Gippsland Lakes
Tuesday 27 January, 2026
Balloted deer hunting in the Gippsland Lakes will be expanded to create more outdoor recreation opportunities and manage deer numbers.
Parks Victoria and Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation are extending the area available for balloted Hog Deer hunting on Boole Poole Peninsula, within the spectacular Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park.
From February, the designated area available for balloted Hog Deer hunting on the peninsula will increase from approximately 600ha to 1000ha. The number of hunters allowed into the area will increase from four to six.
Parks Victoria works closely with the Game Management Authority to ensure that Hog Deer hunting is carried out in a safe and responsible manner, while maximising hunting opportunities.
This change continues the work that Parks Victoria undertakes with the Blond Bay Hog Deer Advisory Group, and broader engagement with the Australian Deer Association and the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia to provide opportunities for deer hunting on public land across the state.
This includes both recreational hunting and deer control operations delivered as part of the Victorian Government’s Victorian Deer Control Strategy.
Allowing recreational hunters greater access to help manage wild deer is part of the Joint Management Plan for the park and will protect the Gippsland Lakes’ native species and landscapes from the impact of deer while contributing to the local tourism economy.
Safety rules around hunting in Victoria continue to apply. The hunting period will remain the same - three designated weeks (Monday to Friday) between February and March each year.
Hog Deer (Axis porcinus) are a popular and highly valued game species in Victoria. Licensed hunters are permitted to harvest one male (stag) and one female (hind) a year. Victoria is one of the few places where wild populations of Hog Deer can be hunted free-range on public land.
For more information on the Boole Poole extension, visit the Parks Victoria website.
For more information on hog deer hunting, visit the Game Management Authority website.
Quote attributable to Parks Victoria Regional Director Gippsland, Kerri Villiers“We’re delighted to offer more space and opportunity for deer hunting in the Gippsland Lakes. Victoria’s public land has some of the best deer hunting in Australia and as well as being a valuable outdoor recreation activity it also has a positive impact on the environment.”
Quote attributable to Australian Deer Association Advocacy & Deer Management Director, Sean Kilkenny
“This is another fantastic outcome for recreational deer hunters and regional Victoria. Recreational deer hunting on public land in Victoria is an international attraction; we are grateful to once again be able to contribute to expanding it for future generations to enjoy.”
Quote attributable to a SSAA Victoria Hunting Manager, David Laird
“SSAA Victoria is delighted to see the expansion of the balloted hunting area on Boole Poole. This will significantly increase the hunting opportunities for Victoria’s hog deer hunters. It is another clear indication of this government’s genuine commitment to increasing access to Victoria’s public land for deer hunting.”
A hog deer. Credit: Parks Victoria