6. Ecology and management of ROE DEER: distribution, ecological characteristics, and economic / hunting importance.

Question 1

Roe Deer

Answer 1

Capreolus capreolus

Question 2

Distribution and Introduced

Answer 2

Most of Europe, parts of Asia,
Most common cervid in Europe

Question 3

Habitat

Answer 3

wide variety of habitats, including deciduous, mixed or coniferous forests, moorland, pastures, arable land, and suburban areas with large gardens.
It prefers landscapes with a mosaic of woodland and farmland. Roe deer are well adapted to modern agricultural landscapes

Question 4

Home Range

Answer 4

Home range size is 30-100 ha.

Question 5

Description

Answer 5

Length: 95-135 cm, Body weight: 16-32 kg, ♂ heavier than ♀

Relatively small deer, reddish and grey-brown coat. They develop antlers up to 20-25 cm long, pointy with 2-3 points. Antlers start growing immediately after shedding. Average life span of 7 years.

Question 6

Diet

Answer 6

Browser (concentrate feeder)
leaves, fruits, buds, shoots of herbaceous plants (rich in protein and low fiber)

Question 7

Social Behaviour

Answer 7

Solitary or small family groups
Bucks are territorial
Larger groups in winter, larger in agricultural areas (10-30)
(Group size is density dependent)

Question 8

Rutting/The male

Answer 8

The bucks cast the antlers in November and grow it during winter
The buck occupies a territory (10 ha) during March-April (antlers are ready to March) * They defend this area, mark with pheromones and show territorial display

Question 9

Reproduction

Answer 9

Mating mid July – mid August
Gestation period: 275-290 days

Question 10

Calves

Answer 10

Birth in May, when the environmental conditions are good enough
The doe seeks cover and hide for fawning)
Twining frequent

Question 11

Hunting

Answer 11

Game species, the hunting bag was 111 461 ind. in 2014.

Roe deer buck:
15 April - 30 September

doe, kid
1 October - 28 February

Roe buck shooting → foreign paying hunters → basis of hunting tourism and incomes (Great Plain)
* Traditionally most bucks shot by foreign hunters
* Nearly all of the largest bucks shot by paying hunters
The main trophy is the skull with the antlers

Question 12

Management

Answer 12

Currently: underharvested and increasing population. More does and fawns can be shot but there is less income from meat sales. There is an overabundance and larger population than reported.

Goals:
* Damages: prevention and decrease
* Healthy population: neither diseases nor failure regulate
* Harvest: sustainable
* Constraints: costs and biology
* Selection: no genetic basis
* body weight: summer food amount and quality, density
* antlers: winter food amount and quality, density

Question 13

Status

Answer 13

Increasing