A severed deer head found dumped in a garbage bin near a south-east Tasmanian primary school and recreational park has left residents "disgusted".
WARNING: This story contains graphic images.
The gruesome find, which included the animal's head and limbs, was discovered on Sunday in a wheelie bin at the Dodges Ferry Recreation Park.
Dodges Ferry resident, Rowena Chapman, said she was shocked to find the remains in the family friendly area.
"I thought it was disgusting that someone would just dump it and not think of others," she said.
"People can be very selfish and not think of others, particularly when children are close by."
Mrs Chapman was at a fundraiser at the local football club next to the park when she made the discovery.
"There was a lot of people there, a lot of kids there," she said.
The 2018 hunting season for antlerless deer in Tasmania concluded at the start of July.
Australian Deer Association executive officer Barry Howlett said illegal activity was a concern because it did not meet community expectations.
"It is the sort of activity that quite rightly puts members of the community right off on what is a responsible and well-regulated field of endeavour," he said.
Mr Howlett said incidents like these were rare, but turned the community against hunters.
"Tasmania probably has the best regulated deer hunting in Australia, so it is really disappointing to hear of anything that steps outside of that," he said.
