Roe size in the UK?

[randello88]

I am curious about the average weight of roes in different times of year and in different parta of the UK. Here in Italy weight varies wildly, going from 20 kg in the alps to even 35 kg in the plains. Where i mainly hunt, in the hills around Alessandria and Asti, a male in July weights between 25 and 35 kg but i recently caught a 38 kg male, it being the biggest i have seen so far

 

[Sol]

From what I've seen roughly 17-24kg would be sort of an average across all age groups though over here were weighing deer with no guts, hide/head on.

I'm sure people have heavier ones but it wouldn't be the most common thing.

 

[Shootingspark]

most roe we shoot in argyll & Bute never seem to get that big. Have always put it down to poor feeding/ tick infestations but I really don't know. They rarely birth twins aswell, which would back up poor feeding maybe? We usually just leave them be since we are shooting reds mostly anyway.
2 hours south to the central belt and the Roe are plentiful and much healthier. 17 -24kg as said above sounds about right for a mature animal id say.

 

[Sol]

I shot a yearling buck a few nights ago that came in at 24lbs on the dot. (10.8kg) I'm not an expert on weights since we dont sell to game dealers but even walking up too it I realised how small it was, I'd expect 12-14 for little ones this time of year.

First deer I bothered weighing, I might start doing it but I'd personally expect our area 22's would be higher end for a nice heavier buck with the average being 17-20.

 

[slider]

Scottish Borders, commercial forestry. Biggest buck i have shot is 17.5kg but many are 24-16kg.
Farmland Roe 15 miles away in Midlothian biggest has been 22kg

 

[Milk no sugar please]

My average carcass weight for 24/25 was 16.5kg with the biggest being 22kg and the smallest 9kg on the hook.

 

[maximus otter]

East Anglia: The only two bucks for which l can quickly find records were virtually twins:



- That’s gralloched, skinned, head & legs off.

maximus otter

 

[Chris Richardson]

i think the biggest ive had larder weight was 22 kg that was in west yorkshire

 

[paulst]

North Cumbria average generally 17.5kg but had one at 22kg head and leg off.

 

[Mr. Gain]

It would be helpful to have information about what, if anything, has been removed before weighing.
I weigh carcasses prior to chilling and chill in the skin, so the following weights for roe buck are minus head, feet and innards, but include the weight of the skin.
17 kg, 17 kg (April), 18.5 kg (May), 19 kg (June). All within 15 minutes of Banbury.

 

[75]

Biggest I had was 25kg (Lancs) - in the skin, gralloched, head and legs off. Generally I'd expect 15-20kgs as an average.

 

[Mungo]

I am curious about the average weight of roes in different times of year and in different parta of the UK. Here in Italy weight varies wildly, going from 20 kg in the alps to even 35 kg in the plains. Where i mainly hunt, in the hills around Alessandria and Asti, a male in July weights between 25 and 35 kg but i recently caught a 38 kg male, it being the biggest i have seen so far

Are those weights the whole animal? Or with guts out and head and legs removed?

Most people here only weigh after head and legs are off and guts removed.

 

[David Barker]

Central belt urban mostly varies from. 13 kilo to 20 kilo

 

[randello88]

Are those weights the whole animal? Or with guts out and head and legs removed?

Most people here only weigh after head and legs are off and guts removed.

That’s exactly what i was going to ask.. without gut (and blood) there is an approximate 25% weight reduction

 

[randello88]

North Cumbria average generally 17.5kg but had one at 22kg head and leg off.

22 kg gutted and without one leg and the head is a pretty big roe, around 35 kg alive

 

[randello88]

So it seems like there is a wide soectrum of weights, just like here.. it has to do with alimentation, in the area were i hunted the big one there are a lot of wineyards and the animals can feed as much as they want with high nutritional food.
In the alps the alimentation is more natural and the weight goes down. Also very cold winters have to do with weight i think. In the alps is pretty normal to have several days below -10 celsius

 

[Chris Richardson]

22 kg gutted and without one leg and the head is a pretty big roe, around 35 kg alive

i believe he means lower legs off ie larder weight

 

[Blaser243]

It would be helpful to have information about what, if anything, has been removed before weighing.
I weigh carcasses prior to chilling and chill in the skin, so the following weights for roe buck are minus head, feet and innards, but include the weight of the skin.
17 kg, 17 kg (April), 18.5 kg (May), 19 kg (June). All within 15 minutes of Banbury.

Same weights here in mid Hampshire.

 

[paulst]

i believe he means lower legs off ie larder weight

Indeed yes, larder weight.

 

[Blaser243]

22 kg gutted and without one leg and the head is a pretty big roe, around 35 kg alive

What use did you possibly have for the one leg?