I dont know the ground - getting a bit too close to Norfolk for my liking but to be honest that doesn't sound out of the way. Especially if there are 15 of you doing the culling. I would have Said Monkey Spanker is on the money with why you didn't see much. Do you do a census or anything at all? Has that shown a reduction in numbers?
Wheres all the deer in thetford
- Thread starter chrisc
- Start date
- Status
Monkey Spanker
Well-Known Member
Thetford Forest is one of the highest populated deer areas in the UK and I believe is in the top 3 RTA areas along with Ashdown forest and the forest of Dean. The University of East Anglia have conducted thermal image census for the past few years and shown no marked reduction in numbers. The deer are most definitely there (at least 5 species)! Sadly though, they don't seem to read the same books as us and remain unpredictable (especially Fallow!
). I reckon you were just unlucky and picked a bad spell.
I help manage a large area on the edge of Thetford and sometimes they just all seem to disappear! They are there somewhere though, that's for sure!
MS
). I reckon you were just unlucky and picked a bad spell.I help manage a large area on the edge of Thetford and sometimes they just all seem to disappear! They are there somewhere though, that's for sure!
MS
Possibly the reason for Chris c's perceived lack of Roe?
60 stalks in the same area only over a period of 2 days. Hardly enough to get a population estimate from. Read monkey spanker's post. He actually manages bordering land and is aware of the census work/numbers. He is far better placed to say if there is a lack of deer than myself, or a stalker that visits for the weekend. Sometimes it happens. There is no shortage of Roe there I am sure. And certainly no shortage of Muntjac, Red or Fallow. There or in any of the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk.
so yes. Perceived lack.
Dear Chris,
Lets really put this into perspective!! You state that out of 60 stalks you managed to get 2 Deer, it is hardly surprising that you consider there is no Deer on the ground which is totally a contrary to scientific research. I would put it more down to the lack of ability of the people involved. We all know that the essence of stalking and Deer management is to know your ground. I would hardly say that to visit the Forest once every 6 weeks is learning the ground! Perhaps the FC should assist you and put flags on the deer so they stand out better! Walking around the roads and tracks of Thetford Forest is hardly true deer stalking. I think it is quite obvious that there is more empty wine and whisky bottles in the recycling bin than there is empty cartridge cases!
Having been a member of the St Hubert Club for quite some time it is not surprising that you struggle to get the deer when the training officer for some 30 years (now chairman) thought that a Peruke cast every year! and also thought that a cleaned Muntjac head was a poor roebuck!!
Rimfire
Lets really put this into perspective!! You state that out of 60 stalks you managed to get 2 Deer, it is hardly surprising that you consider there is no Deer on the ground which is totally a contrary to scientific research. I would put it more down to the lack of ability of the people involved. We all know that the essence of stalking and Deer management is to know your ground. I would hardly say that to visit the Forest once every 6 weeks is learning the ground! Perhaps the FC should assist you and put flags on the deer so they stand out better! Walking around the roads and tracks of Thetford Forest is hardly true deer stalking. I think it is quite obvious that there is more empty wine and whisky bottles in the recycling bin than there is empty cartridge cases!
Having been a member of the St Hubert Club for quite some time it is not surprising that you struggle to get the deer when the training officer for some 30 years (now chairman) thought that a Peruke cast every year! and also thought that a cleaned Muntjac head was a poor roebuck!!
Rimfire
I like your style. I didn't realise it was Hubert's ground. I've heard some rum old stories about goings on over there.
- Status
Similar threads
