In the UK, we are lucky to have many deer living wild in our countryside. Some would go as far as saying that we were spoiled with six officially recognized wild species, some natives and some not.
Roe deer
Roe deer are native to the UK. They colonized Britain before the separation with the European continent but after many of the western islands had already separated. This is why some Scottish islands on the west coast and Ireland do not have roe.
They are generally present in the same territories throughout the year and do not range as far as herding deer species. They rut mid July to mid August and the does have delayed implantation. This means that they delay the onset of embryonic development from the rut until the winter and give birth to their kids at a similar time to most of the other species. Annual fecundity rates are 1.6 but often less in the Highlands. Their natural lifespan is up to 10 years but typically less.
Roe typically weigh 25 kg but often more. The bucks regrow their antlers through the late winter, unlike most other UK deer species. They have no visible tail but the does have an anal tush (straight tuft of long hairs) that points downwards, making it easy to identify sexes from behind.
They became extinct in most of the U.K. through over hunting and forest removal but replanting of habitat and reintroduction efforts in the Victorian era paid dividends. Roe are now the most common deer species we have.
The roe is still one of the most fun to be involved with, for the deer stalker. The bucks have an open season from 1st April to 31st October, and the does 1st November to 31st March.
Damage to trees in the spring and summer from the roe bucks cleaning off the velvet from their antlers, and marking their rutting territories.
Muntjac
Originally from Asia, Muntjac are a miniature deer species, alien to the UK, escapees from private park collections. They are our smallest deer and have a potential to be (and very often being) damaging to woodlands' undergrowth and young trees. Muntjac are not so much trouble in open ground and arable crops, due to their more secluded and private habits.
The magic muntjac is such a special species : they can be in plain sight and within seconds seemingly disappear without a sound nor rustling of the brash. They often surprise stalkers with close encounters. They are notorious for eating precious woodland flowers like bluebells.
They breed year round and therefore have no closed season. Breeding this quickly means that they can reach too higher densities very rapidly and that means persistent territory marking on tree bark as well as browsing damage. The fawns are sexually active at 7 months old, and the does are nearly always pregnant. It is recommended that the shooting of heavily pregnant does be favored to avoid abandoning dependent offspring. Their typical annual fecundity rate is 1.7.
The bucks can weigh 20 kg and the does a bit less. Sometimes they bark at us like a dog, communicating with us, their fellows and the woodlands, asking questions or telling a story.
“Muntjac are simply as splendid and stealthy as any deer could be. ”
We love our wildlife and we love our deer. There are so many benefits to working with the fantastic variety of deer we have in the UK. Embracing their presence, learning their behaviors, preserving their habitats and sharing our land with them, is the key to cohabitation.
