Aerial deer control to close parts of the Prom

Visitors to Wilsons Promontory won’t be able to access many popular walks and beaches during an aerial deer control operation from October 19 to 21.

Parks Victoria said the Prom Wildlife Walk, 5 Mile Beach, Big Drift and Millers Landing will be closed.

The northern overnight hiking circuit will also be off limits, along with Vereker Outlook, Boundary Track and the Yanakie Cemetery Walk.

Cotters Road, Cotters Lake and Cotters Beach are on the list too, and visitors can’t reach the affected areas by watercraft during the operation.

They may hear gunshots as well.

A helicopter may also be seen flying low over parts of the park.

Parks Victoria said an operations controller will be on site, with signs informing visitors of closures.

The operation is part of ongoing work to control introduced animals at the Prom.

Parks Victoria said that hog deer and rabbits put pressure on native plants through grazing, including plant communities that are nationally threatened.

The wider Prom Sanctuary project aims to protect wildlife and habitats across about 50,000 hectares.

Parks Victoria’s annual report says more than 1,200 hog deer were removed from the park in the 2024-2025 financial year.

It’s not the only part of the project either, with work under way on a fence across the park entrance, designed to help keep deer and introduced predators from entering.

In August, Parks Victoria said that construction for that fence was expected to finish in late 2026.

Some access is already restricted, with Big Drift Walking Track and the Stockyard carpark closed for sanctuary works, while Stockyard Campground remains closed until further notice.

Visitors planning a trip around these times should check Parks Victoria’s latest park notices before setting out.