June is a traditionally quite month, however 'the times they are a- changin'.
Whilst I pride myself on being an independent minded sort of person, I must admit that a fair amount of my own knowledge surrounding deer has been imparted to me. Imparted by both skilled and knowledgeable stalkers from whom a learnt my trade and from authors such as my personal favourite the great Richard Prior.
Whilst I make no claim to have acquired the depths of expertise of some of these men, it is important to acknowledge this point and appreciate that much of our own understanding of deer behaviour comes from the studies and countless hours spent by others studying these noble creatures. In the words of Issac Newton (I do love a good quote) “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."
But there comes a time when you must depart from the findings of others and have confidence in your own experience, and for me, one such departure from the accepted paradigm is my altered opinion about the behaviour of Roe in June.
Normally at this time of year I’d be harping on about how quiet June is and how lethargic the Roe are, however, this year I must depart from this perceived wisdom. Perhaps it is due to subtle changes in our climate, or changes in deer densities, but looking back through our cull records I find that during June we in-fact shoot a large portion of our Roebuck. I appreciate that this may be down to a number of variables and in part due to increased bookings before the holiday season, however my observations also lead me to believe that this is not the whole story and that Roe in-fact continue to be active throughout June, before experiencing a pre-rut lull in early-mid July.
Don’t’ believe me? Then examine your own success rates. Either way we should be respectful of the acquired knowledge of others but be prepared to depart from imparted wisdom if the evidence demands it. After all, the very definition of evolution is the ongoing adaptation of species to their environment and we must be prepared to open our eyes to these subtle changes.
And so, I say in full voice; venture out in June! You do not need to wait for the rut, and discover for yourself how the behaviour of the UK’s most cherished native deer species is adapting to a changing climate.
In tribute to this graceful little deer we devote our film, which this month comes to you from the Roe-rich county of Wiltshire. Follow this link to watch our latest film: short-films (June '18)
IN Season in England & Wales: Roebuck, Muntjac Buck & Muntjac Doe.
OFF Season in England & Wales: Roe Doe, Fallow Doe, Fallow Buck, Sika Hind, Sika Stag, Red Hind, Red Stag, CWD Buck & CWD Doe.
IN Season in Scotland: Roebuck
OFF Season in Scotland: Roe Doe, Fallow Doe, Fallow Buck, Sika Hind, Sika Stag, Red Hind, Red Stag.
(Peter Jones - Editor)
