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Description
FALLOW DEER
(Dama dama)

Adult size. Bucks (males): 84 to 94cm at
shoulder, 46 to 94kg. Does (females): 73
to 91cm at shoulder, 35 to 56kg.

Colouration. Highly variable from black to
white. Summer: commonly tan/fawn with
distinct dorsal white spots. Black dorsal
stripe extends to end of tail. Winter: grey
brown, spots indistinct or absent.

Antlers. Palmate in adult (>3 years),
increase in size with age, up to 70cm long.

Life span. Exceptionally, 16 years, bucks
(males) rarely exceed 8 to 10 years. Heavy
mortality at and shortly after birth and
during first winter.

Social groups. Commonly, groups of adult
males and females remain apart for most
of the year.

Time of birth. June.

Number of offspring. One fawn.

Gestation period. 7 2 /3 months.

Food & feeding. Grazers of grasses, herbs
and broadleaf tree shoots during the
summer and brambles, holly, heather and
coniferous tree shoots in winter.

Habitat. Mature woodland.

Status. Exotic but considered naturalised.
Locally abundant and increasing.

Recognition. Intermediate in size between
roe and red deer. Variable but commonly
reddish spotted summer coat. Only British
deer with palmate antlers.
Fallow bucks in the New Forest

Origins & history. The extant species of
fallow deer found in Britain was introduced
to Britain by the Normans in the 10 th
century although some would suggest that
the Romans attempted to introduce it here
much earlier. Fallow deer were prised as
ornamental species and were protected in
Royal Hunting “Forests” for royal sport.
During Mediaeval times many deer parks
remained that held fallow deer and these
and more recent park escapees have given
rise to the free living populations in Britain
today.

Description
FALLOW DEER
(Dama dama)

Adult size. Bucks (males): 84 to 94cm at
shoulder, 46 to 94kg. Does (females): 73
to 91cm at shoulder, 35 to 56kg.

Colouration. Highly variable from black to
white. Summer: commonly tan/fawn with
distinct dorsal white spots. Black dorsal
stripe extends to end of tail. Winter: grey
brown, spots indistinct or absent.

Antlers. Palmate in adult (>3 years),
increase in size with age, up to 70cm long.

Life span. Exceptionally, 16 years, bucks
(males) rarely exceed 8 to 10 years. Heavy
mortality at and shortly after birth and
during first winter.

Social groups. Commonly, groups of adult
males and females remain apart for most
of the year.

Time of birth. June.

Number of offspring. One fawn.

Gestation period. 7 2 /3 months.

Food & feeding. Grazers of grasses, herbs
and broadleaf tree shoots during the
summer and brambles, holly, heather and
coniferous tree shoots in winter.

Habitat. Mature woodland.

Status. Exotic but considered naturalised.
Locally abundant and increasing.

Recognition. Intermediate in size between
roe and red deer. Variable but commonly
reddish spotted summer coat. Only British
deer with palmate antlers.
Fallow bucks in the New Forest

Origins & history. The extant species of
fallow deer found in Britain was introduced
to Britain by the Normans in the 10 th
century although some would suggest that
the Romans attempted to introduce it here
much earlier. Fallow deer were prised as
ornamental species and were protected in
Royal Hunting “Forests” for royal sport.
During Mediaeval times many deer parks
remained that held fallow deer and these
and more recent park escapees have given
rise to the free living populations in Britain
today.