Roe deer

Scientific name: Capreolus capreolus

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Males are slightly larger and darker than females, with short, straight antlers (20–25 cm) shed and regrown annually. Both sexes have a distinctive white rump patch, russet-brown summer coat darkening to grey-brown in winter, and stand noticeably smaller than fallow or red deer.

Size and weight

Males: 22–27 kg, females: 18–24 kg; body length 115–135 cm; shoulder height 65–75 cm.

Habitat

Roe deer inhabit mixed woodland, scrubland, and agricultural edges from lowland to montane zones (up to 2,000 m). They favour areas with dense cover for shelter and open patches for feeding.

Distribution

Widespread across Europe from Britain to western Russia and from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean; prefer mixed deciduous and coniferous woodlands with agricultural mosaic.

Diet

Roe deer browse on tree leaves, shoots, and herbaceous plants; in winter they rely on ivy, bramble, and bark; they also graze clover and grass seasonally.

Behaviour

Most active at dawn and dusk; solitary or in pairs outside winter, occasionally forming small loose groups. Males are territorial and mark territory with scent glands; movement is swift and explosive when alarmed.

Hunting tips

Track sign includes small cloven prints (4–5 cm) and cylindrical droppings; look for bark stripping and antler rubs on saplings in autumn. Approach from downwind through cover using gentle stalking; exploit crepuscular activity and territorial movement patterns, especially along field edges and woodland corridors.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 40 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.