For now, no decision has been made when and if the cull by controlled shooting will go ahead.

Brock Lamont, the council's environment section manager, told the Examiner on Tuesday that due to wet weather and ground conditions, the work was not expected to begin until the new year.

"Council will update residents once a final decision has been made," he added.

Mr Lamont said that there have been at least five vehicle collisions with deer this year and that responses to the council letters had varied, "however the majority were supportive and understanding of the need for a program to control the deer".

He said that council and Hunter Water would continue to work with the RSPCA, NSW Police, Local Land Services and a consultant engaged for the control program

A Hunter Water spokesperson said they supported initiatives to manage increasing deer numbers and recognised the need for an effective and humane way to control the growing population.

Seaham's Gail Thompson said that she had been upset by the news of the proposed cull and felt that there had not been enough community consultation.

"Why is the council trying to rush this through? I have contacted council and expressed my disgust at the lack of discussion regarding options other than culling the deer," she said.

"I was told because they were introduced pests they can legally be culled, and that they had been the cause of accidents and near misses in the vicinity of Newline Road and Beaton Avenue.

"I have had many near misses with kangaroos, rabbits, foxes and possums around the Brandy Hill and Seaham Road areas, but I don't expect that these animals would be culled to prevent an accident. These animals also come out to graze at night."

Ms Thompson believed that improving safety for motorists, or lowering the speed limits, would have been a far better option for council to alert motorists of the dangers.

"At present, there is one warning sign with a picture of a deer on Newline Road. If the situation is so bad, why aren't there more signs asking motorists to be cautious? If you weren't from this area, you would have no idea that they were there."

EARLIER STORY: Controlled shooting proposed to deal with growing wild deer problem

Eagleton residents Tony and Catherine Witcomb say they have been having problems with wild deer for more than a decade.

"They run wild in packs of up to 20 ... eating plants and saplings, veggie gardens and destroying fencing," he said.

They say culling deer in Raymond Terrace is not getting to the source of the problem with not just deer but other feral animals including cats, dogs and foxes who attack livestock, chickens, birds, frogs and lizards.

"The problem needs a collaborative approach, something that has been missing in the past," Mr Witcomb said.

They also believe the culling, if it proceeds, should be done ideally over a matter of three to four weeks instead of just two nights due to their increasing numbers.

Ms Thompson said she was told by a council office that pregnant deer wouldn't be killed, and that it would be done in a humane way.

"The humane way would be to try other options first - like signage, speed limits, driver awareness, moving them further away from the roads and putting up fencing?," she said.

"I feel that anyone that cares for animals, and for their own safety, they would pay attention to the signs, and would at least then be aware that there was the potential for a deer to appear on the side or run across the road."

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