Seeking Advice on Deer Habitat Management in Tree Belts

[Fin_Bainbridge]

Hi all,
I've recently been granted permission on farmland with an interesting layout, and I'd appreciate your collective help on how to best manage it for a healthy deer population.

The Setup:

- The land consists of farmland bordered by tree belts (surrounding all fields).

- These belts are up to 25m+ deep in places, with thick brash from a former railway line.

- No large wooded blocks, just these linear strips.

Current Plan:

1. Lick + Trail Cam: I'll place a KNZ mineral lick in the main drop area (dense brash) and monitor with a trail cam to gauge deer numbers and movement.

2. Habitat Goals:I want to promote a thriving, healthy deer population—not just for stalking but for long-term sustainability.

Questions for the Group:

- What's the best way to enhance 10m+ tree strips for deer? (e.g., selective thinning, planting browse species, creating sheltered zones).

I'm keen to hear your experiences—especially if you've managed similar narrow habitats. Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Fin

 

[Apthorpe]

You are unlikely to want to hear this, but many landowners would be disappointed to hear that when they gave permission to somebody to control the deer, that the person wanted to "promote a thriving .....population" and thought they were entitled to treat the woodland strips to do with as they like. Having a mineral lick can end up creating a messy area. I would be very careful to ensure your goals are exactly aligned with the landowner's. I manage my own deer, but have allowed others to deal with other species and the main thing I can tell you is that their feet wouldn't have touched the ground if I'd found them acting like that.
I think it is important that people remember that the legal basis for shooting deer is to reduce the damage they do, and not to manage a thriving sustainable hunting area, as desirable as that might be to anyone with sense.

That said, I'd think that the strips would be pretty ideal browsing habitat as they are. We have some of them and a lot of hedgerows and they are popular with roe. You may want to think about creating suitable cover where they'd like to lie up. On my land this tends to be higher areas with good views around bramble, but often they couch up out in the fields when the grass/crop is long enough.

I'd devote most effort to improving how you'd approach/ high seats/ get good safe shots. I'm sure the deer will frequent the area regardless. The difficulty often is being able to get a good safe shot at them. The best way to start is to get out there and spend a lot of time watching and exploring the area.

 

[Blaser243]

I also wonder about whether your landowner is on board with this, but perhaps they are. Perhaps you're paying them enough to make it worthwhile, or they're into rewilding. We don't know.

What species are present? What else is grown there?

 

[Fin_Bainbridge]

Many apologies. “Thriving”, is the incorrect word. What was meant is healthy Deer. There has been a few roe carcass found. Without bullet entry or exits.
The aim with the land owner is to reduce the muntjac population, but to retain roe population.
Having had feet on the ground for nearly a year, muntjac population is small, the intention is to keep it that way.
Roe population is small but the land owner would like to see more and healthier looking animals.
There a few fallow who move on the ground for a short period of time but are usually gone by sunrise.

 

[HonestJohn]

If you don’t have cull requirements and you can hills the population, it becomes a playground. A fun one!

Firstly, who shoots the ´other sides? Because if someone does regularly, you’re pi11ing against the wind trying to build a population up.

If no one is. Forget the cams and licks, there’s plenty natural food. Spend time observing with your eyes rather than through a camera lens. You will see far more than what happens on one small location only.

I have some strips like that, and find that it’s often the same deer 3/4 mile down than ‘up’, they move up and down depending on wind and weather and people and cattle etc. so you need to understand the dynamics and not double your deer estimates and cull numbers

Shoot based on leaving the best genes and the ones that are ‘growth beasts’. If you want big bucks and old mature does, cull harder in the younger ones, this will also reduce damage in the strips.

As for woodland management, personally, the deer will be happy being left alone more than you doing bits and bobs with a chainsaw.

 

[Fin_Bainbridge]

If you don’t have cull requirements and you can hills the population, it becomes a playground. A fun one!

Firstly, who shoots the ´other sides? Because if someone does regularly, you’re pi11ing against the wind trying to build a population up.

If no one is. Forget the cams and licks, there’s plenty natural food. Spend time observing with your eyes rather than through a camera lens. You will see far more than what happens on one small location only.

I have some strips like that, and find that it’s often the same deer 3/4 mile down than ‘up’, they move up and down depending on wind and weather and people and cattle etc. so you need to understand the dynamics and not double your deer estimates and cull numbers

Shoot based on leaving the best genes and the ones that are ‘growth beasts’. If you want big bucks and old mature does, cull harder in the younger ones, this will also reduce damage in the strips.

As for woodland management, personally, the deer will be happy being left alone more than you doing bits and bobs with a chainsaw.

Thank you,
Currently there hasn’t been anyone doing the deer management for the past 2 years, neighbours included. Yet the Roe population is still very small. I Have spent September to june (while cover and crops were low) , watching at least once a week, but just have a feeling there is more deer to be found in these deep wooded areas.
Once crops have been combined I will be able to get a better idea of Does that may be Barron.
Thank you for the sound advice, I will leave the chainsaw in the workshop.
Thanks
Fin

 

[HonestJohn]

If they don’t have to come out to feed, they won’t, and you won’t see how many actually are there. But arables next to the strips should be like magnets. To increase the population quickly, simply leave mid to older ages does well alone for a few years, but keep on top of younger bucks of course. Are the adjoining fields often full of sheep? Roe hate sheep crap and the consrand buzzing of said bikes , and the presence can void the best holding areas of deer

 

[Fin_Bainbridge]

If they don’t have to come out to feed, they won’t, and you won’t see how many actually are there. But arables next to the strips should be like magnets. To increase the population quickly, simply leave mid to older ages does well alone for a few years, but keep on top of younger bucks of course. Are the adjoining fields often full of sheep? Roe hate sheep crap and the consrand buzzing of said bikes , and the presence can void the best holding areas of deer

Luckily the farmer avoids sheep like the plague .
Will take the advice and put into practice in terms of culling targets.
Thank you for the advice!!

 

[Cyres]

Once a week viewing isn't going tell you very much. You need to be out for consequetive nights over months with a good thermal to get some idea of what is about.
If you have a high point that you can get parked up on get there before dusk and stay until midnight.
Also walk the whole place at night with a thermal. Di this at least once a week preferably more. It will take at least a month to get some idea of what you have on the ground.
February is the best month when there is the least vegetation.
I know nothing about woodland muntjac but the ones on my perms run up and down the insides of double hedges and a thermal is the only way you will spot them.
Deer will use railway lines as an easy way to move about.
Also remember deer don't like wind so if its blowing they will favour a place out of the wind and in the sun. Esp if they have a good view of the adjacent area
Good luck.
D

 

[Apthorpe]

Many apologies. “Thriving”, is the incorrect word. What was meant is healthy Deer. There has been a few roe carcass found. Without bullet entry or exits.
The aim with the land owner is to reduce the muntjac population, but to retain roe population.
Having had feet on the ground for nearly a year, muntjac population is small, the intention is to keep it that way.
Roe population is small but the land owner would like to see more and healthier looking animals.
There a few fallow who move on the ground for a short period of time but are usually gone by sunrise.

Sounds like a great spot then. I'm sure you'll enjoy.