A CORONIAL inquest into the death of a Moyhu resident killed by his pet deer in 2019, has made recommendations to reduce the risk of such a tragedy ever happening to someone else.

One of Coroner John Olle's recommendations was for local councils in rural and regional communities to consider compulsory registration of pet deer to ensure owners can be made aware of the dangers they pose, particularly in mating season.

On the day of the fatal attack, the victim had entered the enclosure at the family property to feed the male deer he had raised from a fawn, but it became aggravated and turned on him.

Mr Olle said this could have been because the deer was in mating season which coincides with the deer being in 'hard antler'.

In the days leading up to the tragedy, the deceased man's wife had observed the deer's behaviour had changed, and she had advised her husband that she was no longer prepared to enter the enclosure.

"The deer had started displaying more dominant behaviours, including marking its territory by urinating and calling out for other deer," the coroner remarked.

"The man's son observed that the deer may have become entangled in wire fencing.

"The evidence suggests the man may have tried to untangle the deer from the wire fencing.

"Approximately one week prior to the incident, the deer had caught its antlers in wire around a tree and had to be disentangled.

"The deer's behaviour changed following this."

Mr Olle noted that the man had yelled for help when he was being attacked and his wife came to his aid, but she was also set upon by the deer.

"The man and his wife exchanged goodbyes, as they came to the realisation that one or both of them would not survive," Mr Olle said.

An off–duty ambulance officer, who lived next door, heard screams and commotion from the family property and went to assist.

He observed what was happening, went to a nearby shed and located and loaded a shotgun and returned to the scene.

"He aimed the shotgun at the deer and shot it three times, however, the deer did not appear to be affected from the shots," the coroner said.

The deer moved to the rear of the enclosure giving the next door neighbour a chance to untangle the woman from the wire and remove the man from the enclosure.

Once outside the enclosure the neighbour determined that the man had passed away.

Mr Olle, in his review, noted Coroners Prevention Unit research that for the protection of handlers, other deer and facilities, male deer should have their antlers removed annually before the development of hard antlers.

"I recommend that Agriculture Victoria circulate a safety warning and/or information sheet for pet deer owners to remind them that it is best practice for deer to be de antlered prior to mating season," Mr Olle said.

"I further recommend that, given that deer owners are not required to register their pets, vets in rural and regional communities display information relating to deer handling safety."