Fat cwd does

[TringSaint]

I have been shooting cwd for nigh on 15 years and in the main both sexes have carried similar amounts of fat through the winter.
Body condition is typically similar and so is the carcass size.
This year, however, the bucks seem to be quite a bit smaller than the mature does and also carrying little to no fat.

I’m thinking it could be down to too many bucks chasing a smaller doe population during the rut, meaning they eat way less and lose a lot of condition.

Interestingly I have shot mainly bucks this year, but any does have been c20% heavier and their carcass condition has been excellent whereas the bucks I have noticed limited rigor mortis even after 5 days in the chiller.

Welcome thoughts on this
Thx

 

[r judd]

Shot a few CWD this past couple weeks and the does have really had alot of fat. Alot of the gralloch encased in it. Excellent condition

 

[weblyish]

Had some CWD in Norfolk recently and was amazed at the fat on both bucks and does. Couldn't even find the kidneys sometimes.

Muntjac are similarly fat which might be as a result of the heavy mast year but ive never noticed a belly full of acorns on a Chinese like I did this autumn with the Muntjac

 

[TringSaint]

The does are full of fat but the bucks are as lean as anything here. We have a big cwd population tho

 

[Henns]

I've found the same this year, the does are like barrels, really good carcass weights

 

[6mmarc]

The ones I’ve shot in Norfolk both sexes had really good fat on them

 

[r judd]

 

[TringSaint]

It’s a new game called ‘hide the kidneys’!!

 

[TringSaint]

It’s the fat over the rump that gets me - sometimes it’s around 1 inch thick.
Makes butchery harder as you can’t see as clearly.

 

[PEA]

Agreed. Does around Wobern & Milton Keynes are have way more fat on them than the bucks.