The opening of the roebuck season starts on 1 April. The deer management group occasionally go out together to catch up on the last few does for the cull and…
Jon Snowdon
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The fieldcraft needed to manage deer populations
Time seems to be moving rapidly. We are already in the last month of the doe season, which ends on 31 March. It is a period when we try to…
Winter roe management – the pros and cons
For us here in Northumberland, whilst we hope to have at least come close to our management plan cull, the month of February is a critical period. As an aside…
How to estimate the size of deer populations for a management plan
It has been an interesting few months on the deer front. We have put in the hours of effort necessary to meet the challenge we have accepted to carry out…
Telling the age of deer: here’s how to judge
The glorious roe rut is alive. Proceedings start around mid-July and rise to the peak later in the month and into the first weeks of August. That said, rutting behaviour…
How will deer populations adapt to climate change?
A colleague recently sent me some extensive research on deer and hunting. It made for interesting reading, though, to quote Basil Fawlty, parts did seem to be “another MA in…
Can I call roe deer at anytime of the year?
Deer stalking: My deer stalking friend tells me it’s possible to ‘call’ Roe deer. Is this only possible at certain times of the year or can they be called anytime?…
Deer management – Jon Snowdon on details for progress
The deer management group I run has a system that ensures we are always in contact via text when a colleague is on the ground. This information is sent by…
How to choose the right camouflage for deer stalking
Guests preparing for deer stalking often ask what kit they need, especially clothing. They ask whether they can wear camouflage. Usually the answer is yes, however some of the ground…
Do deer kill each other?
Last October I saw for the first time a battle between two big fallow bucks. The violence astonished me and makes me wonder how often they are killed?
What do the different barks of a roe deer mean?
A colleague contacted me last week and told me about a roebuck that had barked at his presence in the wood, only to keep approaching him at a distance of…
How to help save the red squirrel
We are fortunate in Northumberland to still have pockets of the native red squirrel in several areas. This is not by accident. The work that is quietly being carried out…
Roe deer hunting – the five minute cull
We are in the thick of the doe season as I write and trying to catch up the numbers on one estate. Parts of this ground can be quite disturbed…
When should you take the shot?
Leaving aside the stalking skill, knowledge of the quarry, correct rifle mount, stability of position, breath control and all the other disciplines needed for an accurate shot, what do I wait for in…
How to avoid being seen, smelled or heard when stalking deer
Lately I was asked: “What do you consider the most important technique that should be put into practice while deerstalking?” I have to say the question found me a little off guard.…
French forest boar drive
This January, I was thrilled to be asked back to France by my old deerstalking guest Thomas and his father, Gilles, to take part in two driven shoots on boar…
How to spot TB in deer
The first recorded instance of tuberculosis having been transferred from a cat to a human was reported recently. I wonder if this surprised any of us whose work involves animals.…
Why poaching is inhumane
The many laws around deerstalking are designed to protect animal welfare, which is why poaching is not only illegal but often also cruel
Deer stalking: Meat loss or humane kill?
Forget about meat loss caused by a bullet, says Jon. The overriding consideration for every stalker is to bring about the quickest kill possible.