The Australian Deer Association is a national hunting and deer conservation organisation. It was set up in 1969 to promote wild deer herds and recreational deer hunting.[1] The ADA promotes scientific research into deer, retention of habitat, and lobbies on legislation regarding deer and recreational hunting[2].
The ADA is an Approved Hunting Organisation, membership of which would be considered a valid reason for a firearms license in Australia.
The association is involved in hunter education[2], including firearm safety[3] and R Class licenses for the New South Wales Game Council[4].
Since 1972, the ADA has run the Australian Antlered Trophy Register, using the Douglas Scoring System to measure and score the antlers 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.