Roe deer in poor condition

[Heym SR20]

I have not shot many Roe this year, but all that I have seem to be in poor condition with virtually no fat reserves, hair slipping / bald patches etc. I would normally expect to see some that have some weight to them.

This on a selection from the Scottish Borders and Fife. A wet winter, a cold spring and damp summer seems to be taking its toll.

Anybody else noticed this? Admittedly I do focus my attention in the poorer looking animals, rather than any that I see.

 

[Mungo]

I have not shot many Roe this year, but all that I have seem to be in poor condition with virtually no fat reserves, hair slipping / bald patches etc. I would normally expect to see some that have some weight to them.

This on a selection from the Scottish Borders and Fife. A wet winter, a cold spring and damp summer seems to be taking its toll.

Anybody else noticed this? Admittedly I do focus my attention in the poorer looking animals, rather than any that I see.

Quite the opposite.

The ones I’ve shot have been in extremely good condition - body weights 10-15% up on last year, and the best heads I’ve seen in 8 years.

The roe bucks I’ve shot in the last month have all been absolutely larded in fat - almost like fallow deer.

 

[Haggis Hunter]

I shot a poorly conditioned buck as you describe SR20, but then two more that were in very good nick. All in the same area in the Borders. Most deer I have seen have been looking in pretty good condition.
hh

 

[Siggy]

I saw a roe doe in really poor condition down in Surrey last week - spine was like a boats keel. Didn't stop a young buck following her around.

 

[@theroedeerguy]

No condition issues with any of the Roe I’ve shot in Fife this year.

What sort of body weights did you get?

Were the bald patches in similar points of the body?

I have just weighed a pretty average young buck which came in at 16.3kg larder weight.

Most of the bucks for this year have been between 16 and 19 kg larder weights.

 

[User00056]

All I've shot this year in Angus (Forfar/Brechin/Arbroath area) have been in absolutely superb condition