About 160 delegates will descend on Dunedin for the 11th International Deer Biology Congress next week.
Congress convener and Invermay Agricultural Centre senior scientist David Stevens, of Dunedin, said the inaugural event, then called the International Biology of Deer Production Conference, was launched by scientists Ken Drew and Peter Fennessy at the Invermay Agricultural Centre, near Mosgiel, in 1983.
The event was rebranded and held offshore every four years.
"It has been all around the world and this is the first time it has been back in New Zealand."
The 10th congress was held during the deer rutting season in Croatia in 2022.
"It is very wide-ranging."
Delegates would include biologists, conservationist, deer farmers and game industry insiders, Dr Stevens said.
The congress features two field trips including stops to the venison, velvet and trophy operation at Puketapu Farms in Palmerston.
On the field trip, deer genetics agent Adam Whaanga, of Mosgiel, would talk about the system to score a hard antler for the trophy industry.
Northern Southland deer farmer David Stevens, second-cousin to Dr Stevens, would talk about his experiences including the role of genetics.
Topics include how a CT scanner was used in its deer breeding programme, ongoing genomic work and a visit to Duncan Venison processing plant across the road.
AgResearch New Zealand and Deer Industry New Zealand were hosting the event and most sessions were at the University of Otago Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
Speakers include Iain Gordon, of Australia, Chunyi Li, of China, Hayato Iijima, of Japan, David Hazlerigg, of Norway and Jim Heffelfinger, of the United States.
The theme of the congress was "your deer here" to highlight the unique and unusual situation cervids and people managing them experience in New Zealand, Dr Stevens said.
"To highlight we have seven species of deer that have been released in all parts of New Zealand at various times."
