Thread: Deer numbers

Is weaning around late february?

Originally Posted by stevodog

Is weaning around late february?

Natural weaning does not take place till July. On a farm fawns are weaned either pre-rut in the first - second week in March or later post rut last week of May or 1st week of June.
If a wild hind is shot in March the fawn will get a 'check' but will be OK. The later in March the better.

However more alarming was the huge numbers of cats. Just about crashed trying to bowl a big one. Went over edge of road and floored it to get momentum back onto lip. Scary.

Definitely plenty about. A couple of weeks ago I was watching a mob of 20 in the Canterbury high country, almost all hinds with fawns plus the yearling hinds hanging around too. Also a couple of velvet stags sitting above the main mob but they had too much potential to shoot now.

Took ages to ensure I had confirmed the yearling hinds before pulling the trigger on one.

I have noticed a lot more deer also, saw about 30 in 3 hours last week spotlighting

Last week Wednesday and Thurs were smoked out. On Thursday I went with a friend and her son for a hunting /glassing session in a good spot curious if anything would be out with all the smoke round the hills, result nothing seen not even a hare. Friday rain. Saturday eve clear with gentle southerly, I went to another spot close to Thursdays spot, result deer everywhere. Saw 11 hinds plus fawns and 3 stags all from one glassing spot all spread around on different knobs and spurs. This is significant because I have glassed this area for 25 years and that is the most deer I have ever seen.