Fallow Deer Hunts

Fallow Deer Hunts

Fallow deer originated in southwest Asia and have been introduced all over the world. It’s a near-perfect “park deer” species – beautiful to behold, effortlessly adapting to people, and not quite so damaging to forestry as other deer species. Escapees from deer parks formed free-ranging populations, and the species is popular with game ranchers and game farmers worldwide. You can hunt fallow deer across Europe, in the USA and Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and even South Africa.

The most popular way of hunting fallow deer is spot-and-stalk. Hunters are usually accompanied by a guide or gamekeeper, who will not only show where the game is and how to stalk it but estimate the trophy size. The hunter and the guide quietly walk around the area, trying to locate animals and approach them. Fallow deer can be very active in the daytime when they aren’t too disturbed by humans, which aids in hunting them. Calling can also be used during the rut. Hunting from high seats, driven hunts, and hunting with dogs are also practiced.

Fallow deer can be hunted year-round as a game park or game ranch animal. Wild fallow deer populations in Europe are typically hunted September to December and January. Early autumn is usually the best time to hunt a fallow deer (in the southern hemisphere, that would be March to July).

New Zealand

In New Zealand, there is no seasonal restriction to hunting fallow deer, meaning generally, they can be hunted throughout the year, but for trophy fallow bucks, they have hard antlers from March through September.

The best times to hunt fallow deer in New Zealand are:

• The rut (April-May) is when the bucks are occupied in attracting the attention of does and are less cautious than other times.
• Spring is another good time of the year to hunt fallow deer. They come out of the forest to feed on new grass and shrub growth.

The best areas for fallow deer are:

North Island

• South Kaipara
• Waikato
• Tauranga
• Wanganui

South Island

• Nelson
• Paparoa Range
• Wakatipu
• Blue Mountains

Argentina

Argentina is the most popular hunting destination in the world, attracting more than 20,000 foreign hunters annually. The vast majority are wing shooters, many of whom come for Argentina’s world-famous high-volume dove shooting. Doves are considered pests in this country. Huge flocks come into agricultural fields in incredible numbers. However, Argentina is also an excellent destination for big-game hunters; it has some of the best free-range fallow deer hunting in the world. The fallow deer is a ruminant mammal belonging to the deer family. The fallow was first introduced in Argentina to the Lake District in northern Patagonia by Argentine millionaire Aaron Anchorena, who intended to increase hunting opportunities in the region. He released deer of European and Asian origin on some of his many properties around the country. After the introduction, the species thrived in different areas of Argentina and Chile. 

The La Pampa hunting area in Norther Patagonia is perhaps the most important hunting destination in Argentina for big game. It is located 800 km southwest of the city of Buenos Aires.

Europe

Fallow deer are hunted in Spain, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Sweden, Croatia, Bulgaria, and other European countries. Today, fallow deer are found around the Mediterranean (such as in the south of France and Spain), but also in Alsatian and Scandinavian forests. This demonstrates their remarkable qualities of adaptation.

Australia

European fallow deer were introduced to Tasmania in 1830 and to mainland Australia in the 1880s. The deer can now be found in all Australian states except Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The European fallow deer is the most widespread and numerous introduced deer species in Australia. Proper control of deer populations in New South Wales (NSW) was precluded for some years by the classification of these deer as "game animals" and as being a feral pest species. This led to an explosion in numbers, a vast increase in range in that state, impacts on agricultural production, increased environmental damage, and a dramatic increase in vehicle accidents involving deer.

South Africa

Fallow Deer is not indigenous to Africa and were introduced some hundred and fifty years ago to South Africa from Europe. This species has adapted well to most habitats and has been listed as a problem animal in some provinces and regions where they may not be introduced or are shot on-site by the wildlife authorities.

They are mainly hunted in the Free State, Mpumalanga, Eastern, Western, and Northern Cape provinces. Being a deer species, the males shed their antlers each year around November, and they take approximately four months to grow back.

Their meat is delicious and recommended when hunting for the pot. As with most species, venison from a hunted female or younger male is far more tender than a trophy buck.

Texas

Fallow deer were originally from Europe and parts of Western Asia but were introduced to Texas years ago and have done exceptionally well on game ranches in Texas. Their unique palmated antlers are one of their most distinctive characteristics and can grow up to 10-12 inches wide and have numerous points that protrude off the palmated beam. Hunting exotics in Texas has become popular, and demand for fallow deer hunting has dramatically increased, so you should book your hunt early. The best time to hunt fallow deer is late September and October while the rut is in full swing, but fallow can also be hunted through February.

The fallow deer is native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and Asia Minor. The fallow deer has been introduced to 93 Texas counties, primarily in the Edwards Plateau region. In 1988, the Texas population was estimated to be 14,163, both free-ranging and confined animals combined. The adult male fallow deer stands between 32 and 48 inches high at the shoulder and weighs up to 200 pounds.

Canada

Vancouver Island. Only a few places on Vancouver Island, especially the southern parts, have fallow deer, like Sooke and Alberni Valley. Still, you can find some of them living on the Gulf Islands, especially Sidney Island. For now, the management units (MU) or the hunting areas designated by BC regulation for hunting fallow deer are 1-1 to 1-7 on the Region 1 (Vancouver Island) map. But hunters should be aware of certain no-hunting or shooting areas on Vancouver Island.
Like other subspecies of deer on Vancouver Island, fallow deer prefer to live in the forest amongst the trees. That is why Sidney Island's coastal Douglas fir forest is at risk, and these invasive creatures have transformed the island into a not-ecologically diverse region. 
As already mentioned, fallow deer are overpopulated in the areas they inhabit on Vancouver Island. Thus, wherever you walk, you will see at least two fallow deer wandering the land in these regions.

Fallow deer entered the Gulf Islands over a century ago. These creatures are great swimmers. They swam the waters between the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island, and ever since they have inhabited some of the southern parts of Vancouver Island. They multiply like rabbits; in some regions, their population is larger than the number of people. The larger their population gets, the more they need to eat. Consequently, the vegetation is gone. There is no closed season for fallow deer hunting on Vancouver Island. Even better, there are no bag limits as well.

Ireland

Fallow deer are Ireland’s most popular park deer, with over 60 herds in parks or enclosures. While some claims have been made, the number of wild fallow deer in Ireland has yet to be discovered as no national deer census has been carried out. Many of the now wild fallow escaped in the early 20th century, which supplemented old wild herds introduced by the Normans soon after their arrival in 1169. They are now the most widespread species of deer and are found in most woodlands countrywide, both hill and lowland. Fallow deer have a very keen sense of smell and are acutely aware of any foreign noise. In hunted areas or where deer are disturbed, it is easier to find them grazing at dawn or before dusk, and one should approach carefully from the downwind side.

Fallow bucks are the easiest to spot in October during the rut. They tend to use the same rutting ground each year, and the rutting area would have a strong musky smell with some scraping of the ground and tree bark damage.

England

Red and Roe are the only genuinely native species. However, having been introduced over 1000 years ago, fallow deer are now equally embedded in UK culture. The best month to be hunting these magnificent beasts is during October, during which the first cold snap usually brings on the marvelous spectacle that is the fallow rut.