Whitetail in the UK?

[captdavid]

First, I'm not recommending this, but I wonder why they aren't in the UK? I suspect, knowing how aggressive against our exotics, that they would be detrimental to your roe population. Also they are very similar to roe and might interbreed. That would be another can of worms. capt david

 

[Jagare]

They have quite a good population of white tail deer in Finland. They are considered an invasive species in Sweden so its a 365- 24-7 open season on any that cross the border. There is no chance of then establishing in Sweden

 

[LuckyEddie]

There's no chance of getting them in now.
It's not just your exotics, it's everything that didn't live here at some point.
The way wildlife legislation is you'd be hung, drawn and quartered for trying to bring in a non-native invasive species.
We've got a policy, although not well publicised, in Scotland of shoot to kill all muntjacs.
We have Ring Neck Parakeets that have moved up from England, where they decimated the hop fields, that are needing eradicated before they start causing damage to the orchards along the Clyde Valley.
Your American Signal Crayfish are another that needs taken out but the powers that be have decided its best to try and contain them than cull them (DOH!)
Mink I think we are on top of but still need to keep a watchful eye on.
Rhododendrons are finally getting cut back and dug out to let our natural flora to shine thro'
We've still to get the removal of giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed and Russian vine weed sorted out.
Sika were introduced and it's too late to stop them now.

Ok I'll get off my soap box but you get the just of it.

Atb
Ed

 

[Freeforester]

The way wildlife legislation is you'd be hung, drawn and quartered for trying to bring in a non-native invasive species.

...unless it's a 'swimming muntjac' (castor fiber) about Tayside, which were brought in illegally, don't remember seeing the highlights of the HDQ for that one?

Chronic Wasting Disease - that is still doing the rounds in USA, and Norway, if not mistaken?

 

[LuckyEddie]

...unless it's a 'swimming muntjac' (castor fiber) about Tayside, which were brought in illegally, don't remember seeing the highlights of the HDQ for that one?

Yeah I still peeved that was allowed to go ahead.
Thing is it'll be interesting to see what happens when beavers' territory finally overlaps the American Signal crayfish's territories. Which it will do one day. The ASC are already in the North & Sout Esk rivers from what I heard.
How are the Scottish Numpty Party and there minions the SNH going to deal with that?

Atb
Ed

 

[captdavid]

I don't think any of the exotic deer are causing problems at this time. Most landowners would see them as an asset as well as the ringneck pheasant and to a lesser degree the collared dove. Other than the English sparrow, the pigeon, the Carp(imported here by George Washington and others by the way.) and a few large reptiles in Florida, all of which are an annoyance. Our biggest problem is with land and water vegetation. capt david

 

[captdavid]

we betterget back on topic

 

[LuckyEddie]

we betterget back on topic

Why are there no whitetail deer in the Uk?
I suppose simply because a. They are not indigenous to the land and b. No one wanted to bring them over.
Other than that I have no simple explanation.

Atb
Ed

 

[Jagare]

The way wildlife legislation is you'd be hung, drawn and quartered for trying to bring in a non-native invasive species.

...unless it's a 'swimming muntjac' (castor fiber) about Tayside, which were brought in illegally, don't remember seeing the highlights of the HDQ for that one?

Chronic Wasting Disease - that is still doing the rounds in USA, and Norway, if not mistaken?

I read in the latest copy of one of our leading hunting mags that the CWD in Norway is not a import from the US but a completely different strain.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I read somewhere that Finland imported whitetails in the 1930"s. Perhaps the Finnish mining immigrants in Michigan sent them back home?

 

[User00047]

I’m certain that whitetails interbreeding with roe could not happen, although they would definitely compete with roe to some extent.
There are some successful whitetail populations in mainland Europe: a friend hunted one in Czech Republic several years ago and I think sikamalc organises trips to Finland after them.
I guess that historically, people in Britain were happy with the deer that they had here already. No need for another species.

 

[Tim.243]

First, I'm not recommending this, but I wonder why they aren't in the UK? I suspect, knowing how aggressive against our exotics, that they would be detrimental to your roe population. Also they are very similar to roe and might interbreed. That would be another can of worms. capt david

You guys were a bit slow off the mark in WW1 and 2 so how long do you think it would take to get deer over on the boat lol

Tim.243

 

[User00001]

I would be interested to hear more about your theory of Whitetail/roe interbreeding Capt David.

 

[A Guy Out West]

Forget the Whitetaul, what you need are some Pacific Blacktail deer. They would do well in your cold wet climate. It’s pretty much the same way over here too, unless it’s native, it’s not wanted. I say tooooooooo bad. Would love to have Roe and some of your other deer over here.

 

[sauer]

Never happen!!!!!

SNH are doing their damnedest to near enough wipe out our native deer red deer being hit hard.
Estates being told to reduce numbers drastically .

Last winter & nature did its part ...

My humble opinion it seems that last few years that the native deer are being seen as vermin almost and not the resource that I think they are .



Paul

 

[Woodsmoke]

ASC are already in the North & Sout Esk rivers from what I heard.
How are the Scottish Numpty Party and there minions the SNH going to deal with that?

Don't get me started. Seriously!

I once applied to the fisheries department in Edinburgh for a (free) license to trap crays in the Ericht system near Blairgowrie. It was refused on the grounds that 'there aren't any there' . . . .

'Ok', was my response. 'What if I caught a couple to prove it?'

'Well, then you'd be guilty of unlicensed trapping and liable to be charged with that offence'

'But you've just told me they're not there. How can you charge with me with trying to trap anything if it doesn't actually exist?'

'We're not going to issue any licenses'

Talk about head in the sand?

 

[captdavid]

Glyn1,

There is nothing scientific about my thoughts. just a similarity in looks and habits of our whitetail and your roe. capt david

 

[Hunt-Inter]

There used to be whitetail in the UK

 

[User00047]

There used to be whitetail in the UK

Are you referring to an escaped feral population or those kept captive in a zoo?

 

[Brian243]

There are thriving whitetail populations in NewZealand, mainly on Stewart Island with a smaller presence on the South Island. Fascinating deer to hunt. Stock was introduced from the US.