Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer (Dama dama)

Fallow deer are the small, spotted deer often seen in large groups on deer farms as you travel along country roads. In that semi-domesticated situation, they bear little resemblance to free-roaming fallow deer which have the alertness and bearing of all the natural prey species that have learned how to survive and prosper in the wild by constant awareness of their surroundings.

Mature fallow bucks stand about 90cm at the shoulder and weigh approximately 90kg. Does are much smaller and lighter, standing about 76cm and weighing only about 40kg. Colour varies considerably in fallow deer and ranges from the common or ‘red’ fallow deer, through the black or melanistic fallow, to animals which are creamy white.

A mature fallow buck’s antlers are quite different in shape and style to the antlers of any other deer species in this country. Brow and trez tines emerge from the beam as in some other species and, occasionally a bez tine is also produced. Above the trez tine, the beam flattens or ‘palmates’ into a broad palm-like area. The points on the rear edge of the palm are termed ‘spellers’, while the lowest of these is called the guard tine