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Forest Research home > Research themes > Woodland biodiversity > Impacts of large herbivores on woodlands > Deer

Estimating deer recruitment rates from cull data
 

Red deer hind and calf
Photo: Laurie Campbell

To predict future populations of deer, deer managers need to estimate how many young deer are likely to be recruited to the population in any year. For this they need estimates of:

  • The number of female deer in the population
  • The number of young deer that will be born, and survive to adulthood, per female.

The latter is the recruitment rate. An estimate of the recruitment rate is the ratio of young deer to adult females in the culled population. For this estimate to be precise, a large number of culled deer is needed.

To provide deer managers with this information we have analysed data on deer culled from Forestry Commission land since 1999. This has enabled us to provide estimates of recruitment rate specific to particular Forest Districts. These estimates are provided in the manual for the red deer population dynamics model. A paper has been submitted for publication. 

For further information

Related publications

Contact

Dr Helen Armstrong
Ecology Division
Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian EH25 9SY

Tel: +44 (0)131 445 6954
Fax: +44 (0)131 445 7335
Email: helen.armstrong@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

        


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