Deer Talk: March – A Time of Change in the Fields and Woodlands
We’re back, and with Spring (almost) upon us, it’s time to dive straight in. Moving forward, Deer Talk won’t stick rigidly to last year’s format. We found the structure was holding us back, especially when we didn’t always have fresh, fully tested gear to review each month. That said, when we do, you’ll hear about it here first. More importantly, we want this newsletter to stay focused on timely deer management—sharing real, practical insights from our own experiences in the field to help you make informed decisions.
As we step into March, we take a moment to reflect on the previous winter cull season. The past few months have been quite a challenge, with relentless wet weather making stalking conditions difficult at times. However, the hard work put into selective culling will pay dividends as we head into spring, ensuring balanced populations and healthier deer moving forward.
With the doe season now in its final weeks, our approach becomes even more considered. This is the time to focus on any poor yearlings—those that have struggled through the winter—while leaving strong, healthy females to raise the next generation. Every decision now has an impact on the shape of the herd for the seasons ahead—obviously, these decisions are case and site specific.
Assessing Roe Deer Populations
With fresh spring growth emerging, Roe deer can often be seen venturing out of the woods, gathering in groups sometimes numbering a dozen or more. The grass and winter crops are the first to burst into life and are high in calorific value. You will see quite a few deer that scour from the rich change of diet, and this must not be mistaken for illness. This brief period of increased visibility allows us to take stock of population densities and movement patterns—helping to inform management decisions for the months ahead.
Roebucks: A Glimpse of the Season Ahead
March also provides an early opportunity to assess Roebucks for the coming season. Before they become territorial, they can still be seen moving in loose bachelor groups. With many still in velvet, and old mature bucks beginning to clean off by mid-March, their antlers can be deceptive, some appearing far heavier/larger than they will once fully hardened. Now is the time to observe and make note of individuals that may need closer attention come summer.
Gearing Up for the Season
Spring always brings an air of excitement, with the fresh bloom of snowdrops and primroses. Their arrival after the dark of winter is often seen as a harbinger of new life and fresh beginnings and that's certainly what we need heading into buck season!
With the weeks of 2025 already flying by, now is when we ramp up our trail camera activity as we love seeing what our bucks are shaping into! Across all our sites we do a mini 'Spring clean' of feeding areas and trail cams that perhaps need a little bit of TLC after months of enduring the winter weather. This is now when we hope to catch glimpses of mature bucks shedding their velvet and starting to establish their territories, with regular territorial patterns being observed.
Remember, a well-placed camera setup now can provide invaluable insights for the months ahead, helping us track individuals and understand their movement patterns as they prepare for the rut.
March is a time of transition in the deer stalking calendar. While winter culling comes to an end, attention shifts to preparation—whether it’s assessing herds, refining management plans, or setting up for the Roebuck season ahead. A new season is just around the corner, and with it, fresh opportunities to observe, learn, and manage responsibly. Also, a good time to start considering & planning some Impact & Activity assessments in the months ahead.
Our latest stalking video is now live to watch below. Whilst out doing odd jobs, we spot a group of Roe enjoying the late morning sun out the back of the farm—time to make hay whilst the sun shines!
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