From talking to various hunters around the world etc, it would seem that my British fore fathers spent a lot of time introducing various deer species to different parts of the world. Does anybody know if Roe were ever introduced into the US either historically, or more recently as an "exotic" on one of the big game farms?

Regards,

Pete

Ohh I am sure if you go to Texas somebody will have one for you that you can *shoot*. You can probably shoot an elephant from a tower on the same 10 acre ranch on the same morning.

uhhh no offense to ranches

[ 05-18-2003, 06:30: Message edited by: smallfry ]

Pete, it might be a misunderstanding as French speaking Canadians still call the Withetail deer "chevreuil", the French name for Roedeer. Interestingly though, the Whithetail is genetically much closer to the Roe than to the Red (Cervus Elaphus), which is genetically identical to the Elk (Cervus Canadensis) ; these 2 do breed actually.

Pete,

I had a lot of contact with the folks in Texas some years back, and none of them had roe deer. Roe deer tend to be forest creatures, and most of the big Texas ranches were short on the type of deciduous forested areas that roe deer like to inhabit.

George

Pete,

You will note by clicking on " Geographic Distribution " in the attached link that Genus CAPREOLUS ( Roe Deer ) is common only to Europe or Asia.

http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walker/artiodactyla.cervidae.capreolus.html

Although there is an article by Robert Hudson, University of Alberta that does touch lightly on the subject of farming of Roe Deer ( see link below ).

http://www.deer.rr.ualberta.ca/library/deertaxonomy/deerbasics.htm

More is the pity that we are unable to hunt Roe Deer or many of the other species of deer here in North America that you yourself have in the UK, and vice versa I believe.

Though I do admit that it makes for a rather good reason to travel and experience hunting traditions and cultural differences in other parts of this world.

Michael

P.S. Thought I might give this forum a try, it will hopefully keep me out of trouble and will be approved by the female superior in my life

I really enjoy the cat posts on the other boards, might because of some advice I received from a seasoned hunter I know from the UK, who instructed me in bagging my first cat in a round about way

Michael

[ 05-19-2003, 07:31: Message edited by: MindOverMatter ]

I know that Land Between the Lakes, here in Kentucky and Tennesee has fallow and sitka deer, don't remember about the roe deer.

Europe is full of little game parks, filled with fallow deer, and sometimes red deer, even elk I've seen. But I haven't seen one with roe deer. Maybe they don't do well in captivity?

Frans

Pete,

Taking the lead from TERRY8mm, I found that the KY Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources posted a newsletter ( Statewide News Release ) that does in fact mention new regulations in regards to Roe Deer commercial operations.

http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/0999.htm

I think that I will look into this further to satisfy curiousity.

Michael

[ 05-19-2003, 05:29: Message edited by: MindOverMatter ]

Frans

A lot of the game parks have roe as the roe deer is also probably native to the region, so perhaps they are not a big attraction to a "game park" as you will see them everywhere outside the fence anyway.

My experience has been they tend to be more secretive and while eg at Klampenberg in Denmark you will hundreds of fallow and reds feeding in the open, the roe tend to frequent the thick forest a lot more. Walking quietly along the paths you will see them occasionally.

Don't know anything about introductions to North America but attempts were made to introduce them by the acclimatisation societies to Australia. Unfortunately none to my knowledge survived but there have been unconfirmed rumours.

Which is a great shame as there are millions of square kilometres here where they could prosper if not hunted out by the yahoos. Beautiful little animals.

1894,

I stand corrected. Most of the Texas game ranches in the Hill Country and south Texas are on land that is better suited for growing cactus and grazing cattle, not farming. The agricultural areas don't have many game ranches (but do have plenty of white-tailed deer).

Besides, the coyotes and bobcats would probably wipe out the roe deer before the population could grow enough to be hunted profitably.

George

In response to Sauenj�ger1's post:

Take e.g. the "Eifelpark", who advertizes on having the local wildlife on display. They have red deer, fallow, sika, mouflon, alpine ibex, lynx, boar, brown bear...but no roe deer.

There are a few more in that area that I've visited, but never a sign indicating roe deer on the premises...but this is but a small sample of the EU deer parks...you're probably right...it's too ubiquitous, too shy, too secretive, too small to appeal to the "big audience". Too bad, I've always liked them very much, especially because they can be found relatively easy...of course finding and hunting a real big buck is every much as difficult as with other species...

Frans

It's pretty obvious that you're the one with the substance abuse problem.

Don't the people at the day care center keep an eye on you?

George

Cumdrinkin Georgie
Check recipes ---- That is all

BTTS
T