Hog deer are the most tightly regulated species of deer. They may be hunted only during the month of April each year. A bag limit of one stag and one hind per season applies.

If you want to hunt hog deer in Victoria you must first obtain a set of hog deer tags (one male and one female) from the DSE, and then attach the correct tag to the hind leg of every hog deer, as soon as it is killed. Hunters are also required to forward a hog deer tag return form and any unused tags to the DSE by registered post, within 28 days of the end of the season.

The DSE operates checking stations that assess the age of hog deer. All hog deer taken must be presented to a checking station within twenty-four hours of harvest.

A booklet called A Guide to Hunting Hog Deer in Victoria, published by the Game Management Unit of the DSE, sets out further rules and guidelines for hunting this species. You can download a copy of this guide from the DSE web site: www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/...

You may hunt red deer only 1 June each year to 31 July (but not in the Grampians National Park - all forms of hunting are banned there.) There is no limit on the number of red deer that may be taken on any one day throughout the season.

You may hunt sambar deer by stalking all year and by hound hunting from the second Saturday after Easter until the end of November. On some types of Crown land, the hunting of sambar deer is not permitted during part of the open season. There is no limit on the number of sambar deer that may be taken on any one day or for the year.

Sambar deer are the only species of deer that may be hunted with gun dogs and scent-trailing hounds. Hunting with dogs is restricted to an area bounded on the south by the Princes Highway and on the west by the Hume Highway but it is not allowed in national and state parks or on private property (unless the owner gives permission). See further notes below on the use of gun dogs. A map of sambar hunting areas, and the relevant restrictions can be found in the Wildlife Game Regulations 2001(Vic).

The following are special conditions attached to the sambar deer game licences:

You cannot hunt fallow deer on any public land in Victoria; but you can on private land, with the permission of the landowner. The season is the whole year and there is no bag limit. Of course, you also still a licence to hunt fallow deer on private land.