Siberian roe deer

Scientific name: Capreolus pygargus

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Compact build with reddish-brown summer coat turning grey-brown in winter; males carry small, simple antlers (2–4 points) with prominent lyre-shaped curve. Does lack antlers and are slightly smaller than bucks.

Size and weight

Males 45–55 kg, females 35–45 kg; body length 80–105 cm.

Habitat

Open and semi-open forests, grasslands, and mixed birch-larch woodland in continental climates. Prefers areas with mosaic of scrub and clearings at 300–2000 m elevation.

Distribution

Siberia east of the Urals through Mongolia, northern China, and eastern Russia; isolated populations in Kazakhstan; inhabits mixed forest-steppe ecotone.

Diet

Grasses, clover, and forbs in summer; bark, twigs, lichen, and buds in winter; opportunistically browses shrubs year-round.

Behaviour

Crepuscular and nocturnal; solitary or in small family groups in winter; bucks territorial and active at dawn and dusk, does more elusive.

Hunting tips

Search meadow margins and forest edges at first light; look for small, sharp four-toed tracks and pellet droppings clustered near feeding areas. Approach into the wind across open ground or along dense shrub lines; use short stalks to intercept animals during dawn and dusk feeding movements. Antler rubs on thin birches and saplings mark territory and indicate recent buck presence.

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 6 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.