8. Ecology and management of FALLOW DEER: distribution, ecological characteristics, and economic/hunting importance.

Question 1

Fallow deer

Answer 1

Dama Dama

Question 2

Distribution and Introduced

Answer 2

Native to (Southern) Europe but introduced around the world. Also native to Greece, Asia minor.
Most of Europe, Argentina, South Asia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, US, Peru

Question 3

Habitat

Answer 3

Highly adaptable species that can survive in a wide range of habitats, including forest, shrubland, grassland, pastureland and plantations. *They prefer the sunny, sandy pastures with forest patches with low snow cover and few snowy days in winter (southern origin

Question 4

Diet

Answer 4

Intermediate feeder: Grasses, bushes, leaves, buds, stems, shoots, fruits, beechnuts, acorns → they are more grazer, than the Red Deer

Question 5

Description

Answer 5

Description: Reddish fur, with white spots and white belly. Several color variations. Live up to 8-10 years in the wild
* The adult stag has palmate antlers with two lower tines

Length: 130-170 cm (tail: 16-19 cm), Body weight: ♂ 46-80 kg, ♀ 25-52kg

Question 6

Social Behaviour

Answer 6

The hinds and calves also live in family groups, the stags live alone (older ind.) or in small groups (3-5 ind.)

Question 7

Rutting/The male

Answer 7

The rutting period is October-November *The males form leks if the population density is too high to occupy and defend single rutting places → the dominant stags are in the center and in this case they fight for the places not for the females

Question 8

Reproduction

Answer 8

The gestation period is 220-235 days

Question 9

Calves

Answer 9

*The parturition is in May-June
*The hinds seek cover in this time and give birth to 1 calf or occasionally to twins, the family goes back to the group after 1 week

Question 10

Hunting

Answer 10

Game species, the hunting bag was 13 863 ind. in 2014

Fallow deer stag, mature for shooting:
1 October - 31 January

stag, culling
1 October - 28 February

hind, calf
1 October - 28 February

Hunting: drive hunt, high/low stands, males hunted mostly for trophies

o Not too important, but can be when in high abundance
o All CIC world records are shot in Hungary

The main trophy is the skull with the antlers (palms).

Question 11

Management

Answer 11

Population in Hungary is underestimated.
o Bioindicators can be used: Body weight and KFI, Antlers of yearlings and young bucks, Reproductive values
o Harvest in accordance with population trends
o Good age distribution of shot – quality improvements can be seen in 4-5 years, stability of numbers and age classes in 10 years.

Some game damages where there are high populations