Man has created the necessity for deer management by eradicating the natural predators of deer - the wolf, bear and lynx.  Escapees from deer parks introduced several non-indigenous varieties into the wild.  During the two World Wars, when manpower was limited, deer parks were left in disrepair and escapee deer spread.  With the formation of the Forestry Commission, land owners were encouraged to plant trees.  The aim was to create a national reserve of timber against future conflicts, but also created an ideal habitat for deer.  Improvement in farming practices provided more food.

Deer Damage

Deer are responsible for forestry and crop damage and, as they increase in number and range, more damage is now seen in gardens in urban areas. The damage they do to trees and plants are as follows:

Fraying is damage done by territorial behaviour when deer rub and trash antlers on trees and shrubs.

Browsing this is caused by the deer’s natural feeding and can kill or inhibit the growth of trees (note in the image below, small trees are the same age as the larger ones).  Has the effect of creating 'bonsai'.

Control Measures

There are numerous so called effective deterrents i.e. lion dung, sweaty socks, chemical agents and mechanical worriers, these are all short term solutions.  The only effective control is proper deer fencing put in by qualified persons, bearing in mind that roe deer can get under an 8” gap. Proper fencing is expensive and is not cost effective on large woodland areas therefore most areas have deer culling taking place in some form or another.

Remnants of birch woodland near Loch Muick are subject to browsing by red deer (especially in the winter), so temporary fences have been out in place to allow for regeneration.

Fencing in place

Culling

This is done these days more and more by trained personnel who have obtained qualifications like DSC Level 1 and 2 from Deer Management Qualification.  These qualifications mean that all culling should take place in a professional, safe and humane manner enabling  field post-mortem to be carried out to confirm the health of the deer and its fitness for human consumption and carried out under strict hygiene  procedures

The gralloch (Scottish word for evisceration i.e. removal of internal organs) must take place within 30 minutes maximum or less in the summer, after being culled the carcass must be bled immediately to stop the carcass becoming unfit for human consumption, by law. This generally has to be done in the field depending on how far one has to travel and disposal of the head, feet and gralloch should be by burial in the field (ensuring it is not near a water course).  Thus, taking other countryside users into consideration.

Venison 

Venison is one of the best meats to eat (recommended by the heart foundation) it is free-range meat with approximately 60% less cholesterol. The purchasing and eating of venison helps promote good deer management as they are looked at as a natural renewable resource,  instead of a pest.

All six species of deer in the uk produce good quality venison,  although there is a slight difference in taste between them depending on what the deer have been eating and this can produce quite a unique taste.  It is recommended that a carcass be hung for at least three days to help venison mature, hanging for longer would produce a stronger taste (this should always be in a fly and vermin proof area and at 7 degrees C).

Deer Species in the UK

• Red Deer                        One of our indigenous / native deer and the largest
• Sika Deer                        Introduced by the Victorians into deer parks and collections, medium sized.
• Fallow Deer                   Introduced by the Normans for food and hunting.
• Roe Deer                        The second indigenous / native deer, nearly wiped out in the Middle Ages 
• Muntjac Deer                Introduced by the Victorians.
• Chinese Water Deer  Introduced by the Victorians.

 

Fraying

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effects of browsing