Record venison and velvet prices has led to more deer being farmed, reversing a 20-year slide.

Despite the rise, Deer Industry New Zealand chief executive Dan Coup said a big influx into deer farming was not expected.

The trend was a strong indication of growing farmer confidence in the viability of deer in hill country, Coup said.

Despite easing venison prices deer farmers can expect a return to a normal pricing pattern in spring, Deer Industry New Zealand chief executive Dan Coup says.

Farmers are assured normal seasonal demand, which sees venison schedule prices peaking in spring, will return.

LISTEN: The chief executive of the Deer Industry NZ Dan Coup is attributing the lift to growing confidence in the sector. [00:00:33]

New figures show the deer industry is continuing to grow, with farmed deer numbers - including the number of breeding hinds and fawns - increasing in 2018.

The figures are from provisional agriculture census figures released by Statistics New Zealand, and follow a small recovery in stag numbers in the 2017 Census.

The man who says he pioneered deer milking has launched a range of skincare products using the unusual milk.

Queenstown-based Graeme Shaw, former owner of Matakauri Lodge, said he first tried to milk deer in 2012, thinking to make deer milk cheese.

"The brie and blue were fantastic, but then one day one of the ladies who was doing the milking said her skin was softer and more supple during the milking season."

Milking deer could open up a new high-value dairy industry for New Zealand, reckons Queenstown entrepreneur Graeme Shaw, who is launching a world first, locally made deer milk skincare range.

His Kotia beauty brand will be presented to more than 70 industry buyers and media flown into the resort town this month.

Encouraging more young people to join the Elk and Wapiti Society and results of a drench study to combat parasites in deer will be discussed at its next quarterly committee meeting at The Gate Hotel, Cromwell, on March 1.

Society president Glen Whyte, of Methven, said Cromwell had been chosen as it was central for many committee members.

High and stable venison and velvet prices have been reflected in strong demand for stags with a top price of $155,000 paid for a velvet-trophy animal sold by Crowley Deer from Hamilton.

It was not alone in achieving phenomenal prices. 

Nixon has certainly paid his way.

The exceptional velvet and trophy stag owned by Crowley Deer from Waikato sold for $300,000 three years ago but his influence is still felt today with a son fetching a season-high of $155,000 this year and another son making $128,000 two years ago.

All have been bought for breeding, with the $155,000 five-year-old stag and its set of antlers estimated at 25kg going to Mt Cecil Trophy Deer Stud in South Canterbury.

With the deer industry being a relative latecomer to a data-driven approach to breeding values, it is important for the industry to continue to educate farmers and buyers about the gains being made in the industry, Connemara Stud owner Murray Hagen says.

''Breeders continue to make investments in their animals even though in many cases they continue to be ahead of the market in terms of returns,'' Mr Hagen said. ''And it costs money to carry animals every year.''

Encouraging more young people to join the Elk and Wapiti Society and results of a drench study to combat parasites in deer will be discussed at its next quarterly committee meeting at The Gate Hotel, Cromwell, on March 1.