Dama Dama Free-range

31/05/2026

…. And he’s back! Nine deer down by 9pm. As much as the cold wet nights are tough working conditions they also mean the your very own Wild Deer Harvester is out hunting as soon as the sun drops. The deer are healthy and plentiful and the hunting practice Anthony squeezed in during our holiday to our happy place Aotearoa, seems to have paid off (😉😂). The Dama Dama crew is looking forward to bringing our wild shot venison back to you all very soon. Thank you for your patience and words of support. It’s good to be back ❤️🦌

20/05/2026

WE ARE BACK!

We have just received the good news that we can recommence harvesting very soon. Castle Estate wild meat inspection will be underway in the next week or so. Once all is in order and signed off by the relevant authorities we are good to resume harvesting.

This is fantastic news for our small business. What initially looked like the end for us,is now a new beginning. We want to thank all those who reached out to show your support for us. It meant alot to us at a challenging time.

So, we will be restocking restaurants and taking online orders from the 10th of June.

Our first Farmers Market will be Torquay on Saturday 13th of June. Then the 20th at Torquay and 21st at South Geelong.

We look forward to catching up with everyone again very soon. Thanks for your support.

05/05/2026

A little update from Dama Dama 🦌

As many of you know, we’ve hit an unexpected pause following the fire at Castle Estate, where our wild meat inspections take place. It’s a tough setback, and like many others, we’re waiting patiently while things rebuild and inspections can safely recommence.

The good news? This isn’t the end - just a pause.

Right now, the Dama crew are taking a breather over in New Zealand, where wild game and venison are a regular sight in supermarkets and on menus. It’s a great reminder of what’s possible, and we’d love to see that same appreciation for wild, sustainable meat back home in Australia.

We’re itching to get back into the Otways, harvesting quality wild venison and bringing it from the forest to your fork.

Our goal: back to markets in early June
Our mission: helping you Eat Wild once again

Thanks for sticking with us - we can’t wait to be back.

The Dama Dama crew 🦌

📷: Anthony and the Wild Chamois he shot on the West Coast with Joseph from (this Chamois has fed us for our whole trip 🙌🏼)
📷: Venison mince standard on supermarket shelves.
📷: Wild Food Challenge - we picked a good time to be in Motueka!
📷 : entry for the 2026 challenge From the Forest to the Sea. Was so bloody tasty and very popular. Almost every table in that night was getting it!!
📷 at Westport has many different stockists across the South Island (and some up north too!). We tried the Nanny Goat pie at at Franz Joseph - pastry to die for but the meat was still the superstar!
📷 : the Hokitika Wild Foods Festival has been running annually for 36 years - celebrating wild and foraged food!

31/03/2026

NEW: Venison E-Tracking Now Available
Scan the QR code to trace your venison back to its natural habitat 🌿
🦌View the exact bushland your deer roamed
🦌Learn about its diet and lifestyle
🦌See “last known movements” before harvest
🦌Optional: Name your deer before checkout ($2 extra). Available only until midday today.

08/03/2026

Good news from Dama Dama !!

After the devastating fire at Castle Estate, we’re incredibly grateful to share some positive news. The hardworking team at Castle Estate are already planning their rebuild, and we couldn’t be happier that they will be back operating soon!

Thanks to these massive efforts, Dama Dama will be back on track by mid-May 2026, with restaurant supply, farmers market stalls, and online sales returning.

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who reached out, shared kind words, and supported us during this time. The outpouring of encouragement from our community has meant the world to us.

Most of all, we’re thrilled that the fantastic team at Castle Estate will soon be back doing what they do best.

So it’s not goodbye… it’s just see you soon.

Before you know it, you’ll be back eating wild with Dama Dama again.

04/03/2026

Dama Dama Free Range has been impacted by the tragic fire that occurred last night at Castle Estate, Koallah.
As Game Meat Inspectors, Castle Estate manages the inspection of our venison, and because of this devastating fire, we will no longer be able to operate our small business. This will affect all supply to our restaurants, online customers, and our farmers market stalls.
We are fortunate to have already moved our current stock to our butchers in Colac. This venison will be available at the following farmers markets - Torquay Farmers Market 7th and 14th March and South Geelong on the 15th March. This will be the last opportunity to purchase fresh Dama Dama for the foreseeable future.
All online sales have been suspended. There is potential for a frozen stock sale at Torquay Farmers on the 21st March. This will be confirmed closer to the date.
Our thoughts are with the owners and workers of Castle Estate and send our sincere thoughts and support to everyone impacted by this fire. Many small businesses in the community will also feel the effects of this loss.
Thank you to our customers for your understanding and continued support during this difficult time. We will share updates as soon as we know more about the path forward.
Anthony & Beth Roe

30/10/2025

Very chuffed to rate a mention in today’s Good Food Guide in The Age! Special shout out to Taste of Tibet, Giant Springs, Mytcha Matcha Bar and Turkish Catering who received a special mention! Hope to see you on Saturday to see what all the fuss is about!!

18/09/2025

🦌❤️

10/08/2025

We cannot thank Mark, Casey, and Hollie from enough for organising this "surprise" flight for the 3 of us. They put it off a few days until the weather was perfect.

It is absolutely breathtaking countryside to see and such a fantastic family company to deal with.

Mark is very knowledgeable about the whole area and a great pilot. Giving an understandable safety briefing to our 11 year old and allowing us s much time up on the tops as possible to take photos.

It's definitely an unforgettable experience that we highly recommend.

02/08/2025