New deer hunting rules not expected to bring numbers down

The Tasmanian government has announced changes to the rules around hunting wild fallow deer in the state. (Supplied: Limestone Coast Landscape Board)

The Tasmanian government is making changes to the rules around deer hunting, which it says will reduce the number of wild fallow deer.

It comes as deer numbers continue to soar, and farmers report "huge losses" as a result.

There are concerns the changes don't go far enough, and won't result in any meaningful change.

The Tasmanian government is loosening rules for shooting deer as their numbers continue to soar, but both farmers and shooters are arguing the changes still fall short.

A new permit system will allow landholders to shoot deer year-round without quotas, bag limits, or tagging requirements.

The exception is in what is called "deer management zone one", where restrictions will still apply, although hunters will be able to take two male deer instead of the previous limit of one.

Zone one is where deer are in their highest numbers. It covers the midlands, Central Highlands and northern regions.

Tas Farmers chief executive officer Nathan Calman said he was disappointed restrictions still applied in the areas hardest hit by deer.

Nathan Calman says the changes don't go far enough. (ABC News: Georgia Hogge)

Mr Calman said irrigation had transformed the region covered by deer management zone one into high-value agricultural land, but that had also increased the impact of rising deer numbers.

"That's where these high levels of deer are now just thriving and causing huge losses for producers in many cases," he said.

Farmers have reported "huge losses" in some places because of wild fallow deer. (Supplied: Andrew Large)

Tas Farmers made a submission on the state's new fallow deer policy late last year. It was one of 800 submissions received.

The submissions were made public in March, and Mr Calman said there was broad support for removing tagging requirements.

"During the consultation around those changes, there was majority support for removing the need to tag male deer at all; we saw that as an unnecessary element of red tape," he said.

The Natural Resources and Environment Department (NRE) stipulates that immediately after taking an adult male deer, a tag with the shooter's details must be attached to the deer's antler as legal proof of a lawful harvest.

The government received 800 submissions during consultation on its deer management policy review. (Supplied: Guy Ellis)

While Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce said the government was "taking strong action to slash red tape and