Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Roe deer has been living on the Estonian territory already for almost 10 000 years. Today, a maximum of 20-30 roe deer live on 1000 hectares in Estonia. Roe deer is a species that is very attached to its home territory. Breeding season is during the second half of July and the first half of August. Buck “dates” several does one after another. Gestation period lasts ca 9 months, 1-2 kids are born in May-June. In autumn, the kids form up to 30-40% of the animal population. The weight of an adult roe deer reaches up to 30 kg, the weight of a kid up to 20 kg. Due to natural conditions the natural mortality is high; during severe winters up to 30% of the population may perish. The availability of watery plants of the shrub layer is important in winter.

Roe deer may be hunted using calling hunt, hunting from hides or stalking hunt. Buck is hunted from 1st June to 30th September, does and kids from 1st September to 30th November.

The best time for buck hunting is June when the grass layer has not yet grown high. Most popular form of hunting is stalking hunt. During that period, strong trophy bucks should be spared if possible. During the breeding time, calling hunt is an emotional and productive form of hunting decoying bucks with a whistle from a high seat.

In 2004, more than 4000 roe deer were counted in the RMK hunting districts; during a hunting season up to 500 roe deer are hunted half of which are bucks. Approximately 5% of medal winning trophies are buck trophies. The weight of a medal winning trophy starts from the weight of horns that is approximately 350 grams. Bronze medal goes to a trophy from 105 CIC points to 114,99, the silver medal from 115 CIC points to 129,99 and the gold medal from 130 CIC points or more. Roe deer are hunted the most in the Mahtra, Nõva-Kullamaa and Varbla hunting districts; roe deer hunting is not organized in the Rakvere-Tudu hunting district.