TASMANIAN deer hunting groups have labelled recent incidents of shooting "abhorrent".

Oyster Bay deer farm owners Faye and Cedric Oates became the latest victims of poachers yesterday morning, after one of their stags was shot, dragged from their property and beheaded.

"We've had problems in the past with people driving past and using high-powered rifles to shoot at the deer, but this is the first time someone has actively come on to the property," Mrs Oates said.

"It's very important that people are aware of these kind of activities so that we can find those responsible and put a stop to it"

Mr Oates said his property was used for game hunting during Tasmanian deer season, and suspected that whoever killed his prized stag had knowledge of the area.

"They've scaled the 7m-high fence on the perimeter of the property and had enough knowledge on how to move the animal ... so it looks like it was planned," Mr Oates said.

SSAA Tasmanian Deerstalkers president Terry Hill yesterday said the incident at Oyster Cove was one of many he had heard of recently and that illegal hunting was an ever-present problem in Tasmania.

"There was recently five deer found near roadsides in Waddamana; we frequently hear reports from people about drive-by shootings at their farms," Mr Hill said.

"And it's not just deer a lot of people have said that their livestock had been targeted by these illegal hunters."

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