Red Deer hunting in Australia
Cervus elaphus
The roar of autumn across the ranges
Red deer carry the most famous sound in world hunting: the roar. Australia's best known herd descends from deer gifted by Queen Victoria in 1873 and released at Cressbrook Station in the Brisbane Valley, and reds now range through south east Queensland's Brisbane and Mary valleys, the NSW tablelands, western Victoria and the SA border country.
Every autumn, from late March through April, stags roar across the valleys and hunters get the few short weeks that define red deer hunting. A roaring stag answering your call in a misty Queensland valley at dawn belongs on any hunter's list, and it is a genuinely achievable hunt within two hours of Brisbane.
Outside the roar, reds remain a rewarding stalk. They mob up on grazing country through winter and can be glassed and stalked in open valley systems, and management animals and meat hinds keep freezers full while helping landholders control numbers.
Where to hunt reds
South east Queensland, especially the Brisbane Valley and Mary Valley, plus the NSW tablelands, western Victoria around the Grampians fringe, and the Victoria and SA border country.
When to go
The roar runs from late March through April and is the marquee event. Queensland treats deer as pest animals, so private land hunting is year round with landholder permission. Winter offers clear, cool weather for glassing mobbed-up deer.
Methods & gear
Roar hunting: locating stags by sound at dawn, then stalking or calling. Outside the roar, glassing valley faces early and late and still-hunting timbered ridges. Calibres from .270 up are the accepted standard for a big-bodied stag.
Best regions for reds
Red Deer hunting: common questions
When is the red deer roar in Australia?
Late March through April, peaking in early to mid April depending on the season. Stags roar hardest at dawn and dusk in cool, still weather. Roar bookings on good properties are the most sought after dates in Queensland hunting, so reserve months ahead.
Where did Australia's red deer come from?
The Queensland herd descends from red deer gifted by Queen Victoria and released at Cressbrook Station in the Brisbane Valley in 1873, with further releases in the 1870s. Deer from those releases spread through the Brisbane and Mary valleys, which remain the heartland of Australian red deer hunting today.
Do I need a licence to hunt red deer in Queensland?
No hunting licence exists in Queensland. Deer are classified as invasive pest animals, and hunting them on private property is legal with the landholder's permission. You need a current weapons licence for your firearm, and your booking provides written permission for your dates.
Properties with reds
No listed properties for reds yet
Landholders with reds on their country can list free and keep 85% of every booking.
List a property