Tracking feral deer with GPS collar technology

A GPS collaring program is being delivered across the Port Macquarie region to better understand feral deer movement and behaviour.

Led by North Coast Local Land Services, in partnership with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, with research partners the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, the program will:

• track how feral deer move through the landscape
• identify high-use areas and movement corridors
• support more targeted and coordinated management.

This work represents an Australian-first approach, using high-frequency GPS data to provide new insights into deer behaviour.

The project builds on existing work under the Hastings Feral Deer Management Plan and will inform long-term control strategies across the region.

Project background

Feral deer populations are increasing across the Hastings, creating impacts for agriculture, native ecosystems and community safety.

Deer can:

• damage crops and pasture
• degrade native vegetation
• pose risks on roads.

The risk is greatest in areas where rural and urban landscapes meet, and as interactions increase between deer, people and built environments.

Over the past 5 years, North Coast Local Land Services has been implementing the Hastings Feral Deer Management Plan through coordinated control across public and private land.

While control programs are ongoing, there are still gaps in understanding how deer move across the landscape. This project addresses that gap by collecting detailed movement data to improve how and where management actions are applied.

Project objectives

This project will:

• improve understanding of feral deer movement patterns and habitat use
• identify areas of high deer activity across the landscape
• support more strategic and coordinated control programs
• strengthen long-term feral deer management outcomes across the Hastings.

Project delivery

Local Land Services will provide:

• placement of clover traps in areas with known deer activity
• safe capture and sedation of deer by trained personnel
• fitting of purpose-designed GPS collars
• release of animals back into the environment
• collection and analysis of high frequency GPS data to understand movement and behaviour.

Project timeline  

• Program commencement: April 2026.
• Implementation: collaring and data collection underway following deployment.
• Ongoing: monitoring and data analysis to inform management.

Project updates

April 2026

Local Land Services has been working with partners:

• identifying and preparing trapping locations in high activity areas
• deploying clover traps across the Port Macquarie region
• commencing deer capture and GPS collaring
• collecting movement data.

Read the media release -GPS tracking program to improve feral deer management

How to get involved

Landholders and community members can support the project by reporting feral deer sightings through the FeralScan DeerScan program.

Sightings help build a clearer picture of deer activity across the region and support coordinated management.

Community members may notice trapping equipment or deer wearing collars during the program and are asked not to approach traps or animals.

Report sightings

Funding and partnerships

This project is delivered by North Coast Local Land Services. Project partners include:

• Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
• Centre for Invasive Species Solutions
• NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.