See it? Hear it? Report it:

If left uncontrolled, wild deer pose a major threat to Taitokerau/Northland’s unique native forests and the biodiversity they support. Even a few wild deer can result in populations bouncing back, undoing years of conservation gains.

Northland is home to a wide range of unique native flora and is a centre for regional endemism, meaning these plants are only found in Taitokerau. Many of these threatened species are described as highly palatable to ungulates (hooved mammals, including deer). Deer are selective browsers, meaning they will eat what they prefer, reducing the biodiversity in the understory of the forests.

The cumulative effects of browsing can lead to canopy collapse and long-term changes to our forests. The open and browsed understory becomes vulnerable to drying winds, which means smaller plants that require damper conditions, such as mosses and filmy ferns, will also be removed. Their over-trampling can also lead to soil erosion.

Taitokerau, with its sub-tropical climate, is one of the few regions that has kauri forests. As ungulates, deer pose the risk of potentially spreading the kauri dieback disease through soil movement and disturbance.

Uncontrolled wild deer populations can also impact our rural economy, damaging pasture, native plantings, and fencing on farms – costs that are ultimately borne by landowners and communities.

Taitokerau is proud to be TB-free (free of bovine tuberculosis). This programme helps maintain this status, as illegally released deer may have been sourced from TB-infected areas.

Investing now makes financial sense: removing deer while populations are small is less costly than managing widespread populations later, and avoids the long-term costs of ongoing control, ecological restoration, and continued damage to our environment and rural economy.

There are known pockets of wild deer populations across Taitokerau/Northland. To remove these, we use a wide range of tools and technology, including dogs with specialised skills, drones, thermal imaging, trail cameras and the use of science to identify individual deer through DNA sampling.

We also need help from the wider public to report any wild deer sightings. Keeping Taitokerau wild deer free is an important task – one we cannot do alone.

'Wild deer' refers to deer living in the wild that are not being farmed, also commonly referred to as feral deer. As of 2025, there were red and fallow deer pockets in Taitokerau/Northland, and the remnant of one sika deer population.

Yes, you can. If you are thinking of farming deer in Taitokerau, please note there are special regulations and you will need a permit from DOC. There are species restrictions and specific fencing requirements, depending on the species you wish to farm, and exclusion zones. To learn more, visit: doc.govt.nz - Deer farming requirements in the Northland region

If you are already a deer farmer, please remember to report any deer escapes within 48 hours - Escaped Deer hotline 0800 FIND DEER (0800 346 333). For any changes to your permit (fencing, deer species), please contact DOC.

Yes, as long as you have the permission of the landowner. If you shoot a deer in Taitokerau, please let us know, as we would simply ask for its ear clipping for DNA identification purposes. Under the Regional Pest Management Plan 2017 – 2027, anyone who sees or suspects the presence of feral deer in Taitokerau/Northland must report the sighting to NRC (Rule 7.2.1). A breach of this rule is an offence of the 1993 Biosecurity Act. We ask that hunters work with us and report any deer sightings in Northland.

It is not worth illegally releasing deer in Taitokerau as they will be removed, which can become a costly exercise. Individuals convicted of doing so are liable for fines of up to $100,000.

Please note: A valid NZ firearms licence is required under NZ law for any use of firearms.

We have a unique opportunity to eradicate wild deer from Taitokerau/Northland, and everyone has a part to play – the main action is to any report sightings of wild deer. Please note the time and location and if possible, please also take a photo or video.

Where possible, we do use local hunting contractors to carry out the specialised eradication or incursion response work. We encourage anyone with an interest in potential opportunities to email us at wilddeerteam@nrc.govt.nz

To do this mahi and contract for NRC, you must be able to:

• Show your/your company’s professional experience in hunting and ungulate/pest animal eradication
• Demonstrate specialised skillsets such as the use of thermal drones, aerial and ground hunting, scat and indicator dogs, and 
• Provide all the appropriate qualifications, licenses, and certificates (Firearms, Sitewise, H&S plans, etc).