One for the Deer specialists.

[Sergeant]

Evening all,

Over the last couple of days I've spotted a solitary Deer grazing amongst our neighbors cows on a bank near our house that is half pasture half woodland. It has antlers which I believe makes it a buck, but we cant agree whether its a Roe or a Fallow.

So the question is where might it have come from, theres never been deer round here, and why is it on its own, are there likely to be more?

TIA,

Tom.

[Kes]

How far away was it? If you could see its antlers then you can decide the species - larger and palmate - fallow, upright and little branched - roe.

Do you have a deer farm near you ?

[Sergeant]

Hi Kes,
About 400 / 500 meters away, I think its a roe based on antlers, but Mum recons fallow based on its rear end colouring, black line / tail on white.
No there isnt a deer farm that I know of, but a stately home about 10 miles away apparently has fallow. Would they move that far?

Tom

[Kes]

Hi Tom

10 miles is rather the upper end of the distance I would expect them to move but others may know better. I think I agree with your mum and I'd be doubtful of seeing roe antlers at 500M without binos.

[PUSC]

Look like an M on the tail patch? Fallow

 

Palmated antlers = Fallow or deformity

 

Grumpy faced? = sika

 

White patch on back leg (metatarsal gland) = Sika

 

White spots on nose/chin = roe

[Hunter_zero]

What colour is the deer? Can you see spots of a dappled effect on the deer? Is the deer a red colour all over the body? The antler, is it bigger than the head? wide and easily visable? The cordial (sp) patch on a fallow is visable but then to be honest roe can be mixed up with fallow if you are not sure of the deer species. It would be unlikely to be a fallow grazing with cattle (although I have seen fallow and cattle, fallow hate sheep more than cattle). There are reds, fallow and the odd roe in your area.

 

John

[kent]

Why is it people forget that YOUNGER Fallow bucks do not have palmated antlers (flat scoop type) it takes a few years for these to come (depending on quality of food). Also Roe do not have a visible tail, so seeing a tail discounts them. Sika are unlikely unless already known in the area though can look very like fallow at times(especially to the naked eye at 4-500 yds).

 

My GUESS is a young Fallow buck that has been pushed out of its normal area by the older Buck / Bucks and this is how deer spread out. The fact it was in with stock does not help much all deer seem to dislike the smell of stock especially sheep- but needs must if your the new kid in town.

[r1steele]

What area of Carmarthen are you from as I think (not totally sure) there is a place West of Ammanford that have some herds (not sure what species). I know it's a decent way off but it is possible.

[BRYAN3]

Sounds like a Fallow Pricket= young buck.

[Sergeant]

Interesting, Im back at work now so will have to hope its still around by the end of this rotation so I can get a better look. From what your saying it seems strange that it would choose that field, which is the worst one for grazing with plenty of other better unoccupied pastures around the main wood.

Thanks,

Tom.

[Hunter_zero]

Deer will always call you a liar. I have heard many people say deer will not do this or that, then suprise suprise, next day they are doing exactly what they are not supose to be doing.

My gut feeling is that given your location, it's likely to be a red stag from the deer farm, but to be honest there isn't enough info to make a correct identification. There are fallow, more fallow than reds in your area and I have heard of sporadic roe activity as well as Muntjac, but IMHO both are very unlikely to be in your area.

 

John

[Dekers]

Is there no chance of a picture, even at distance with modern technology I suspect we could identify it!

[scotslad]

U would probably be better to type/search for pictures of deer on the net and see wot u think looks most like wot u seen.

 

Like others have said young fallow will not have the large palmetted/flat antlers, fallow have quite a large colour range from white throu to black with the traditional light spotted the more common. Fairly large difference in size between roe and fallow but possibly hard to compare at that distance. Wot sort of size/hieght was it compared to the live stock? Fallow are fairly large deer

 

Dunno if some online DSC type identifaction guide where u can tick wot identifying features u seen, possibly BDS site?

 

My 2p worth sounds like a fallow with a visible tail with black lines on white, often fallow have a horizontal white line along there side too (but will depend on the colour)

[Sergeant]

Hi Scotslad,

I spent ages on google, with Mother comparing the two species, but we couldnt agree which it was out of fallow and roe. Im on stand down again tomorrow so will be taking my camera and hopefullt try to get a decent shot if it shows up.

 

Tom.

[scotslad]

Money still on Fallow

 

Roe won't have a tail, u may see a small anal tush (suppose could look tail like, but not visible from that distance), and certainly not on a buck! Also roe are really quite small deer

 

Try searching for fallow buck pricket or yearling photo's on the net, they will just have small 'roe' like antlers and nothing like the antlers u see in the photos off the really big boys with dinner plates.

I actually passed some fallow grazing today right at roadside in broad daylight with some prickets with them, i thought about turning to take a photo (but i also don't know how to post them anyway) they do just have small single spikes mibee just 4ish" or slightly longer

 

I dunno wot deer are in ur area usually, but it is more common for small landowners to buy a couple of fallow to keep rather than the reds (dunno why, persume easier handled) so it may just be a random escapee from a very small hobby herd and not a large deer farm

[Penelope]

Fallow prickets

 

 

 

 

[scotslad]

Any luck wi the deer id yet?

 

Some good photos posted there by penelope, from ur description the 2nd bottom photo seems to match the tail ur mother saw and possibly the antlers u saw?