Sex and age structure of a forest roe deer population under hunting pressure

Abstract

L., 1982: Sex and age structure of a roe deer population under hunting pressure. Acta theriol., 27, 26: 377-384 [With 3 Tables & 3 Figs.] Studies were made from 1974-1979 of sex and age structure in a population of roe deer, Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758) living in a wooded area about 8,000 ha in extent. The population was subject to fairly intensive utilization as game (from 12"/o to 23.5°/o). The ratio of males to females in the population varied during the study period from 1 : 1.2 to 1 : 2.5, and was created chiefly by the effect of natural winter mortality. The age distribution of the population exhibited a decided predominance of faws (on an average about 42°/o of the population numbers) and a small proportion of animals from 1-3 years old. It was found that utilization of does is random in character and is distributed proportionately over all age classes. The criteria applayed in Poland for selective shooting of bucks cause excessive shooting of individuals of medium age (3-5 years old).