Doe/hind cull progress?

[ABL]

Out this weekend in the pouring rain. The two of us managed one Muntjac doe between us over 4 hours. Saw a few other deer but nothing standing still. We reflected that with all this weather a) likely fewer stalking days taking place across the country and b) fewer deer shot even on those days.

So what's the effect going to be on the cull figures come the end of the season? Are people going to make their cull numbers or are we going to have a big breeding season because too many pregnant does and hinds have been left?

 

[Tim.243]

Out this weekend in the pouring rain. The two of us managed one Muntjac doe between us over 4 hours. Saw a few other deer but nothing standing still. We reflected that with all this weather a) likely fewer stalking days taking place across the country and b) fewer deer shot even on those days.

So what's the effect going to be on the cull figures come the end of the season? Are people going to make their cull numbers or are we going to have a big breeding season because too many pregnant does and hinds have been left?

Personally I don't work to a cull, whatever is safe and in season is on the list, muntjac are on the go 24/7 fallow cross the boundaries more times than the chicken who had to get to the other side. Reds are camped out 2 farms over.
Shot 1 muntjac doe this evening with 2 others no bk stop oh and a fox lol

 

[ABL]

Personally I don't work to a cull, whatever is safe and in season is on the list, muntjac are on the go 24/7 fallow cross the boundaries more times than the chicken who had to get to the other side. Reds are camped out 2 farms over.
Shot 1 muntjac doe this evening with 2 others no bk stop oh and a fox lol

But have you shot as many as normal at this time of year or are you down on your usual numbers? I'm guessing well down, from reading your posts? Even if that's more than most of us!

 

[wytonpjs]

Achieved our Beat roe cull of 42 in 4 weeks (mid Dec to mid Jan) and took a hefty chunk of muntjac too - more than double our entire total last season. On my private ground, my yearly totally was 50% higher than the previous year and 5 weeks in, I’ve managed 9 so far (roe, fallow and red). It it were to continue at that rate I’d double what I took in 2024. So for me, it’s not been that bad - damp and horrible under foot but they’re still out there.

 

[wanderer]

I am down on outings this winter season due mostly to the crapness of the weather.
I can pick and choose when i go out now being retired but compared to my younger working days when you braved the weather otherwise you wouldnt have got out, i wait for a better day but there have been fewer of them..

 

[Chris Richardson]

had 5 munties and 2 roe in the last week , weather hasnt been the best but id say im about where i need to be

 

[Tim.243]

But have you shot as many as normal at this time of year or are you down on your usual numbers? I'm guessing well down, from reading your posts? Even if that's more than most of us!

The weather has/is playing big factor and the rugby/boundary he was over the ditch and these were out on Saturday
but not been past that camara since any hint of west wind as your are ducked as that tree line is west

 

[ABL]

I am down on outings this winter season due mostly to the crapness of the weather.
I can pick and choose when i go out now being retired but compared to my younger working days when you braved the weather otherwise you wouldnt have got out, i wait for a better day but there have been fewer of them..

I suspect that’s going to be a similar picture for many

 

[slider]

Its been tough. Despite the weather I've been out at least twice a week since Christmas and managed only one doe

 

[Tim.243]

Its been tough. Despite the weather I've been out at least twice a week since Christmas and managed only one doe

One of the reasons I don't buy into or asked to have "cull figures" as all the land owners know I work (like most of us) and are happy with the numbers I shoot.
You can't be in two places at once.
A good reason to look at deer season changes and times as the weather seasons are changing also the combined efforts of
outfitters cullers estates syndicates Leo Sayer types (one man band lol) is not enough.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Fallow numbers well down despite concerted efforts, roe deer seem to have upped & disappeared after a brief appearance before Xmas. Muntjac on the other hand - we’ve shot a lot more than normal, my freezer is packed with the stuff, we’re giving it away to everyone we know!

As far as returns go, four of us were out on Sunday morning & we saw 2 fallow between us with neither presenting a shot. We know they’re about but they’re just not moving around & are lying up in places they know we can’t get to without them spotting us or winding us.

Extremely frustrating - I’m praying for a spell of cold dry weather

 

[Dan Newcombe]

Weirdly I don’t think the weather has affected deer movement a great deal here.

It’s been horrible, wet and sleet for most of the year so far and deer are out feeding in the wet or in brief respites - I assume because they know it’s here to stay so they have no choice.

 

[Tim.243]

Weirdly I don’t think the weather has affected deer movement a great deal here.

It’s been horrible, wet and sleet for most of the year so far and deer are out feeding in the wet or in brief respites - I assume because they know it’s here to stay so they have no choice.

Deer like all have to feed and if the food is poor/sparse then they will work harder and longer.

It is us who are most affected by the weather conditions, those who have stalking cancelled as it is blowing a gale/sideways rain but the deer still have to feed.
Like most things this will pass and soon forgotten

 

[Ratel]

Bloody awful rain has hit us hard on cull. Rivers like I have never seen them, flowing over road at bridges and 100yds wide at our ford. This cuts out about 400 acres of usual deer territory. Most are still in groups of 100+ and know where to avoid being shot at unless you are into 350-500yd shots. Had one good afternoon got three animals, this purely because they were roost shooting next door and moved a bunch of 130 on to us. Its still not letting up, rain every day and animals either extremely jumpy or laid up where unapproachable. March will be very busy if the rain stops, if not there will be a big explosion in numbers.

 

[ABL]

Bloody awful rain has hit us hard on cull. Rivers like I have never seen them, flowing over road at bridges and 100yds wide at our ford. This cuts out about 400 acres of usual deer territory. Most are still in groups of 100+ and know where to avoid being shot at unless you are into 350-500yd shots. Had one good afternoon got three animals, this purely because they were roost shooting next door and moved a bunch of 130 on to us. Its still not letting up, rain every day and animals either extremely jumpy or laid up where unapproachable. March will be very busy if the rain stops, if not there will be a big explosion in numbers.

Exactly so. And may become more of a seasonal challenge in the future.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Have been reminded of the importance in thinking twice and then a third time before pulling trigger due to difficulty of extraction in these exceptionally wet conditions.

K

 

[David Barker]

I don't mind the weather as long as my freezer is full. 18 days till i stop shooting does i am sure i will get a few more then on to the bucks and keep the deer numbers at a healthy rate.

 

[Ratel]

Have been reminded of the importance in thinking twice and then a third time before pulling trigger due to difficulty of extraction in these exceptionally wet conditions.

K

Yes agree with you, a beast down on a banky field which appeared hard. Well got the truck up to it easy enough, then turned to pick it up and into a soft spot. Tried everything, branches etc just sank a bit more. Thank goodness for mobile phones, managed to raise the boss to come pull us out. Whilst waiting for him my young pal went and gralloched a further beast and pulled it 200 yds across soft mud to a hard track. Certainly going to be considering everything before that squeeze on anything tomorrow.

 

[Xone262]

I’ve found the fallow in Sussex have been extremely hard since does came in this season. Not moving about much or only moving well after legal shot time, so pretty much waiting until pitch black and nocturnal. Can always find them in woods but usually bunched up and not shootable behind thick cover. I had a cracking early season with lots of bucks, but does have been really tough. They also seem to have changed habits on many of my plots this year and some places they would always pull out year after year are not producing. I’ve also noticed I’ve hardly heard any shots this year from other stalkers on neighboring ground so I guess others finding it tough as well, or not getting out as much. Very unusual.

 

[wanderer]

Lack of a safe backstop is an issue and the Roe Does seem to know where to hang out due to the lack of shooter action in those spots.
Consider if the lie of the land has the curvature of a giant football and any prone or off sticks shot doesnt give that safe backstop.

I have spots like this and guess where the deer hang out!
These deer then pass on their genes..