I've seen deer grazing oil seed rape in hard frost and actualy eating the frozen leaves but for the life of me I think that's the only grazing I've seen in these weather conditions.

The rest of the time I've seen them browsing hedge lines etc but I don't think I've ever seen them grazing on frozen grass

Anyone else got any observations on this. When and where would you go on a freezing morning?

1894,

We tend to find deer tight into the woods where overhangs leave a bit of unfrozen grass on the margins that they find easier to eat. I too have never seen them grazing frozen grass.

One thing we do notice consistently is that they will come out in the morning sun or late afternoon to get the sun on their backs. If tthe ground has no real farm traffic like at this time of the year I have often seen Fallow com out to graze shortly after the first bit of sun thaws the grass, or before the frost comes in of an evening.

Are the Roe as affected being predominantly browsers?

Rgds,
FB

1894,

An interesting observation that appears to coincide 100% with our experience. On a freezing morning; at dawn, like you've already mentioned - I head straight to the frozen Rape Seed plot! Even with a heavy frost or snow on it where digging about and some scrapping is required Roe Deer seem to really take to frozen Rape Seed leaves.

Like FB - after a freeze and/or some snow the evening/night prior I've noticed the Fallow Deer seem to be very active as soon as it turns sunny. We get straight back out at about 10:00 and wait until after noon-ish. Pays off more often than not.

We have had three days of relatively hard frosts "up here int North"

I was out this morning in a usual spot where i know the Roe come out to brouse, however instead of doing the usual, a group of three came straight out and started to feed at a patch of grass which was in sunlight (08:05 am and -4 celcius)

They were obviously jumpy, as they did not stop for longer than a second or two before moving on, the wind was non existant and I was in a hollow some 250 yards away.

Due to their heightened state of awareness, there would have been no shot anyway. Typically, all three were bucks as well

1894

Just got back from a trip with Griff to Gloucestershire. We shot 4 Roe last night feeding on a field of rape and this morning shot 11 Fallow deer which were definitely feeding on frozen grass (i will post some pics as soon as i am in a position to do so).

Jon

it was minus 8.5C and the deer were covered in frost..

regards
griff

Oh forgot to tell!While we were down in Glos Jon knocked over a roe @ 366yds stone dead!! we now call him "fortunato basrardo cacciatore".

regards
griff

Here on the North West coast of Norway we have about 20 cm snow on the ground where I live.
10 minutes ago I filled up the feeding tray for the sparrows and robins with sunflower seeds in my garden, and there, 100 meters away was a nice roebuck feeding along the edge of the woods Temperature at the moment is 12 centigrade below zero.

Both the red, and the roe feed during daytime now, and put quite an effort in scraping away snow to get access to the frozen grass and blueberry bushes. They seek out the places with less snow.

Since the snow and cold weather came late in january, they seem to be in very good shape this winter.

quote:

Originally posted by griff:
Oh forgot to tell!While we were down in Glos Jon knocked over a roe @ 366yds stone dead!! we now call him "fortunato basrardo cacciatore".

So he shot something 30 minutes before (I seem to remember from previous post) you and now shoots a roe at 366yards. If it's the same rifle and scope I suggest you have just answered your long range/low light scope question.

This morning the deer were in the woods browsing. Bagged a nice fat doe.

2 lessons learnt

First don't gralloch on a snow clad ride - it looks like the texas chainsaw massacre

Second don't gralloch in your snowsuit - it looks like you committed the massacre!