Since moving from Pambula in late 1999, Ms Dohm said she had never seen the invasive species in what she describes as “plague proportions” before now.

“I’ve had as many as 15 deer down the driveway and now a big stag and a smaller male are regulars,” Ms Dohm said.

“When I am close to one I just stand still, I thought to myself  ‘do I run?’, but I just stepped back and he went up to a tree and rubbed his antlers on it.

“They’re desperate now, because it’s so dry.”

Last weekend a 58-year-old man suffered wounds to his chest and stomach during a deer attack at Otford, near the Royal National Park.

Mid-last year the NSW government was advised by its own Natural Resources Commission that deer should be reclassified as a pest species, which would allow the animal to be hunted more easily.

Despite the advice, deer remain listed as a game species across NSW, making it illegal to kill them on public land or private property without the permission of the owner. 

Geoff Black of MGM Panelbeaters in Bega said despite the presence of deer the company have repaired only two cars after striking the animals on Brown Mountain over the last 18 months.

He also resides in Wolumla and said he has seen larger numbers in previous years, and was aware some residents were attempting to control numbers on private property.

Kiah resident and president of the Australian Conservation Hunters Clyde Thomas has previously told Fairfax Media hunting deer “is a long cultural tradition, and an asset to this area if managed right”.

It is understood deer were introduced in the early 1800s, and Ms Dohm said the community believes some deer were also released from a farm decades ago.

Unsure of what to do, Ms Dohm said she contacted council to see who she should approach for help in controlling the animals, and was advised council “don’t do deer”.

Council’s own State of Environment report for 2012-2016 highlights the fact “feral deer” are causing herbivory and environmental degradation, with the southern brown bandicoot and the long-footed potoroo most at threat. However, the report lists no current mechanisms in place to attempt to mitigate these threats.

Reports from the ACT Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment show Cervus, Axis and Dama deer populate almost half the shire, mostly in “heavily timbered and woodland areas” and deforested land.