The Australian Deer Association Inc (ADA) is an Australian not-for-profit association incorporated in South Australia with branches in all states and territories. The Australian Deer Association was established on September 5, 1969 (first named as the Australian Deer Hunters Association) to be advocates for

deer Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the reindeer ...

herds and deer

hunting Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...

. The ADA promotes scientific

research Research is "creativity, creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular att ...

into deer, retention of

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

, and lobbies on legislation regarding deer and recreational hunting.Australian Deer Association Inc (Victoria) State Executive Members Only
. vicnet.net.au The objectives of Australian Deer Association are listed in their

constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of Legal entity, entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When ...

as: * The improvement of the status of deer in Australia, * The promotion of research into the habits of deer; and the scientific study of deer in Australia and their relationship to the Australian environment, * The promotion, application and publication of the methods of management and control of deer whether semi-domesticated or wild, * The retention and improvement of habitat for deer and other wildlife, particularly by encouraging governments to pass legislation and make regulations based on sound management principles, * The preservation, and where appropriate the generating of deer hunting as a legitimate sport, * The preservation and extension of public access to the Australian bushland for recreational use, and the encouragement of such use, * The preservation of the environment, * The education of hunters in the safe handling of firearms, and, * The personal adoption by members of the Association's Code Membership to the Australian Deer Association is considered by most states of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

as a genuine reason for a weapons license. The association is involved in hunter education, including firearm safety and R Class licenses for the New South Wales Game Council.Announcements - NSW Game Council R-License
. Hecqld.cable.nu. Retrieved on 2011-11-05. Since 1972, the ADA has run the Australian Antlered Trophy Register, using the Douglas Scoring System to measure and score the

antler Antlers are extensions of an animal's skull found in members of the Cervidae (deer) family. Antlers are a single structure composed of bone, cartilage, fibrous tissue, skin, nerves, and blood vessels. They are generally found only on male ...

s of deer trophies. Scoring had up till then been a localised approach, and the implementation of the scheme allowed a national approach. The scores were first published by the association in 1976. The ADA publishes a magazine with 6 editions per year.

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