Gents,

Here we go...I have poached this from the Deer-UK.com site!



They explain:

"Many areas now have Fallow which have developed there own local characteristics. An excellent example of this phenomenon are the Long Haired Fallow of the Mortimer Forest in Shropshire. These were discovered or documented in 1953 by Gerald Springthorpe, a Forestry Commission Ranger, and, titled Dama dama springthorpeii, they do not occur anywhere else in the world."

Regards,

Pete

Boghossian,

As I understand it, there are four different colour phases in fallow here in the UK.

1) Common

2) Menil...a paler version of Common. On a common fallow the rump markings as seen from the rear (the inverted horse shoe) is black, in menil fallow it is brownish...Also with menil the spots are still visible on the winter coat.

3) White

These are born buff or creamy white white spots over the coat. As the deer matures they become progressively "whiter" with each molt until they are basically an "off white" colour..This apparently takes a few years and usually the head and neck are the last to change...They are not true albino's though....

4) Black or Melanistic

These are black or very dark fallow.

In a wild herd its possible for all four colour variations to occur and if one is dominant, its usually down to the culling policy in the area. Besides these distinct colour phases there are also "inbetween states" and as a real rarity there have been cases of pied fallow ie black and white...

Regards,

Pete

No they haven't snuck down here yet.

BUT my deer look exactly like that at the moment, moulting from their winter to summer coats. As yesterday was 39 deg C they won't take long to loose their hair now.

I noticed this weekend that the Stags were quite vocal (October 18 or so). It wasn't the dominant herd Stag it was the lonely outsider making all the noise.

Weekend before this it was the herd Stag making all the noise.

I have only hunted stags in Scotland once, but it was such a fun, cultural experience that I want to do it again. Mrs. AAZW and I traveled to Scotland, hunted for a few days, toured some castles, hiked in the Lakes District with some friends from Manchester, drank a lot of beer, and in general had a great time. Scotland is a such a beautiful place.