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The ISC is seeking to implement a management plan that would classify wild deer as a feral pest species. At present, wild deer are declared a game animal in NSW and can be removed by hunters with a Game Council licence.

Queensland recently declared red deer as a feral pest and the ISC wants a similar decision made in NSW.

ISC policy officer Tim Low doesn’t believe accredited conservation hunters are suitable to control the feral populations and believes there are better methods to manage it.

He said professional licensed shooters could be employed and managed by National Parks officers to eradicate the pests.

“I’m not convinced that recreational hunters should do it,” he said.

“It’s well known that they move animals around to new places for something to hunt ... I’m not talking about all hunters, only a small proportion do it.”

South Coast Hunters Club president Dan Field, of Tilba, has been a member of the club for 15 years and agreed that deer were considered to be feral but said their hunting was done in the “State’s interest”.

“The situation at the moment is that there are a lot of deer on the South Coast and up on the mountains behind the South Coast,” he said.

“We’re keeping the numbers down. Another benefit that people don’t realise is that not only people from the South Coast hunt these animals, but people from Sydney go and hunt the forest.

“They are given maps specifically to show areas where they can and can’t hunt and it brings money into our economy.”

Nine out of 10 conservation hunters utilise their kills for their skins and meat, according to Mr Field.

The Game Council of NSW states on their website that more than 11,000 feral animals have been eradicated from State Forests since March 2006.

The council is a Government agency that licences and regulates voluntary conservation hunting in declared State forests and on private lands. It presently has 10,000 registered and accredited members.