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A DEER cull trial in the North East high country has resumed, with shooters targeting the invasive pest from the ground. Six volunteers from two groups began shooting in the Bogong High Plains on Tuesday following culling activity in mid-December. The trial program will determine if ground shooting is an effective way to mitigate the impact deer are having on the environment. Parks Victoria will assess the impact of the shooting program to determine the best control techniques for the pest species. A spokesman said no deer have been killed during the latest trial, which will run for a week, due to unfavourable weather conditions. While the killed deer are moved to an appropriate position away from waterways, or left where they fall, the state opposition has announced plans to turn the carcasses into pet food if elected. Member for Benambra Bill Tilley said the animals were “out of control” in the region, damaging crops and trees, fences and causing car crashes. He believes turning the deer carcasses into pet food would give an incentive for shooters to target the animals. “On the Border here we have significant manufacturers of pet food, whether that’s Mars or Cool Off on the other side in NSW,” he said. "There is no regulatory or legislative ability for people to pass on deer on a commercial basis. "That needs to change.” The opposition would legalise the practice if elected. “We're not seeking a free-for-all,” Mr Tilley said. "We're seeking appropriate balances and methods of controlling the populations of animals which are just expanding.” Australian Deer Association executive officer Barry Howlett would welcome the changes and said they should go a step further. “It would be a means for landowners to get rid of them rather than having all these carcasses on their property,” he said. “It should work for farmers in the North East where deer numbers are really high. “We'd like to see it go further, so the meat goes into the human feed chain.” Parks Victoria spokesman Graeme Baxter said deer control activity was undertaken to protect conservation values in the Alpine National Park.

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