Food for Deer and Badgers

[Jonathan]

Hi Royalist,

What time of the day are you visiting the forest? Most wild deer tend to be crepuscular or nocturnal and lay up in thick woodland or on open moorland (depending on species, weather, etc.) during the day. Try walking the woodland at first light or at dusk, there should be far fewer people around and, hopefully, your chances of seeing deer will be much increased. Look for deer along forest rides, open areas within the woodland and along the edges of the forest, ignore thicker areas as you either won't see any deer (they'll see, smell or hear you before you see them) or only get frustrating glimpses of them as they depart!

Personally, I wouldn't attempt tracking deer until you're more familiar with them - you'll probably end up simply spooking them - there's a danger if they're repeatedly disturbed during the day they may move out of the immediate area altogether. For photographing deer dawn's probably better than dusk, as the light is always improving.

If your looking for a mineral lick you could try salz paste anis:

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Cheers
Jonathan

[Royalist]

Originally Posted by derelict

On the positive side, your deciduous woodland is good news... any oak trees there?

It would be if it was not so heavily populated with humans and canines. I think I shall have to restrict my visits to dawn and preferably unwashed.

I think there would have been oaks there, but I will double check next time, There is no reason that I can think of, why there shouldn't be as there are plenty in Cornwall anyhow.

The Forestry Commission tell me that they will not allow deer licks to be located on their land.

Roy

[derelict]

The reason that oak trees would be good news is that in about 3 weeks time any deer will gravitate to them as the squirrels etc start dropping the first acorns. Then when they start falling of their own accord...

So the thing to do is to find the oak trees which have the best crops of acorns on them - not necessarily the biggest trees - and monitor them. Oak trees don't synchronise their drops so acorn season can go on for several weeks in any woodland. And that is far and away your best chance of seeing what deer you have in your plantation as I doubt that the FC will run to horse chestnut trees! Deer are extremely good at hoovering up the acorns so don't expect to find many acorns on the ground but their droppings should give them away. If you should find both acorns and droppings the deer will be back! I hope this helps...

[deer boy]

Hi Roy
Just a few questions:Have u seen any deer in the woods yet?
How many times have u been to the woods looking for deer?
What time of day are you going to the woods?
How long are you spending (each visit) looking for deer?
Are u staying in one place or walking around the woods?

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Royalist

The Forestry Commission tell me that they will not allow deer licks to be located on their land.

Roy

Unfortunate news about the Deer lick Roy. Did they offer a reason as to why theyre not allowed?

Mark H

[Royalist]

Hi Jonathan

Originally Posted by Jonathan

What time of the day are you visiting the forest?

I have been there twice now before dawn and the second time, yesterday I was in the wood to some depth before daylight.
As I was leaving, at about 7am the first dog walkers were already arriving. I usually stay two to three hours and have tried both choosing a likely place and setting up camera and camouflage and staying there. Last time I walked for the whole two hours. It was very wet underfoot, there had been rain overnight I think. Tracks were very few despite the mud and mostly dog, horses and bicycle tyres.

Originally Posted by Jonathan

Look for deer along forest rides, open areas within the woodland and along the edges of the forest,

Done all that.

Originally Posted by Jonathan

there's a danger if they're repeatedly disturbed during the day they may move out of the immediate area altogether.

I believe that is exactly it. The area is too heavily canine and human populated. I have never seen a deer trail, but only an isolated track, I think that very few deer have been seen there. I have been told of two instances. Perhaps it is time to look for fresh pastures?

If your looking for a mineral lick you could try salz paste anis:

Product Browser

Thanks for that. I will wait until I actually have firm evidence of deer presence.
In the meantime it seems that I will have to go off to Exmoor, or concentrate on totally different animal families.
Roy

[Royalist]

Thanks Derelict

Originally Posted by derelict

in about 3 weeks time any deer will gravitate to them as the squirrels etc start dropping the first acorns.

Thanks, I looked out for oaks yesterday and in fact there were very few in the part of the wood I have explored so far and the rest, from a distance seems to be coniferous.

their droppings should give them away. If you should find both acorns and droppings the deer will be back! I hope this helps...

It certainly very useful to know. Many thanks.

I have realised that in that particular wood, I have not seen one Badger's sett and they are usually quite open to see. Yesterday I found one round hole in a bank, but without a musty smell.About Fox size though, but no tracks to it, so it was abandoned, I suppose.

Roy

[Royalist]

Hi deer boy

Originally Posted by deer boy

Hi Roy
Just a few questions:Have u seen any deer in the woods yet?

No!!

How many times have u been to the woods looking for deer?
What time of day are you going to the woods?
How long are you spending (each visit) looking for deer?
Are u staying in one place or walking around the woods?

I have been there about four or five times I imagine, twice now before dawn and the second time, yesterday I had penetrated the wood to some depth before daylight.
As I was leaving, at about 7am the first dog walkers were already arriving. I usually stay two to three hours and have tried both choosing a likely place and setting up camera and camouflage and staying there. Last time I walked for the whole two hours. It was very wet underfoot, there had been rain overnight I think. Tracks were very few despite the mud and mostly dog, horses and bicycle tyres.

Roy

[Royalist]

Originally Posted by mh68

Unfortunate news about the Deer lick Roy. Did they offer a reason as to why theyre not allowed?

Mark H

Thanks Mark

I quote their reply: -

<<Unfortunatley we cannot permit the placing of any artificial means such
as mineral licks and other temptations to attract deer in the forest to
aid your photography. >>

Roy

[deer boy]

Hi Roy
Sorry u haven't seen any yet i know how frustrating that can be.
The first time i went out i didn't see a single deer but as soon as i found my first herd i couldn't stop finding them.
You say u haven't seen any yet & you've been 4/5 times for 2/3 hours, i think u should try & find another location.
One thing u could do is talk to the people u see in the woods ask if they've seen any deer.
I've done a quick google search & Tehidy Woods has a herd apparently don't know how far u are from there.
I know there's some on the Cornwall Devon border as well.
Keep persevering & i'm sure you'll find some, all the best

[Royalist]

Originally Posted by deer boy

I think u should try & find another location.

I agree.

One thing u could do is talk to the people u see in the woods ask if they've seen any deer.

Two have and next time if there is a next time, I will ask if they can tell me where they have seen them at what time of day.

I've done a quick google search & Tehidy Woods has a herd

I have never seen any there, but I might try there again perhaps. It is quite an extensive woodland with lakes and waterfalls. I have taken quite a few pics there this year.
I found the wood that I have been concentrating on locally from "www.bbc.co.uk/springwatch". Although it is local to me I had no idea it was there.

I know there's some on the Cornwall Devon border as well.

I think I will do a search for "deer" "cornwall".

Thanks Deer Boy

Roy

[derelict]

Originally Posted by derelict

The reason that oak trees would be good news is that in about 3 weeks time any deer will gravitate to them as the squirrels etc start dropping the first acorns. Then when they start falling of their own accord...

So the thing to do is to find the oak trees which have the best crops of acorns on them - not necessarily the biggest trees - and monitor them. Oak trees don't synchronise their drops so acorn season can go on for several weeks in any woodland. And that is far and away your best chance of seeing what deer you have in your plantation as I doubt that the FC will run to horse chestnut trees! Deer are extremely good at hoovering up the acorns so don't expect to find many acorns on the ground but their droppings should give them away. If you should find both acorns and droppings the deer will be back! I hope this helps...

As a belated footnote to the above:

I did this exercise recently myself, only to discover that it's a bad year in these parts. My favourite deer viewing spots - i.e. relative privacy and guaranteed sightings - were utterly devoid of acorns. Not even a nubbin on a tree. I ended up waiting till this week and following the deer to see where they were going (the advantage of a deer park!) They found more acorn-bearing trees than I did, but I suppose they have a vested interest...

[Rob T]

Roy Hi,

Dos'nt sound like your having alot of luck, dont give up though.

The first thing to remember when out looking for wild deer is allways, allways be down wind if your not they wont be there to see, they will be long gone so aproach your wood /fields with the breeze or wind in your face.

Whilst walking through a wood try to keep to the paths once off the path youll probably be walking on leaves and twigs, the sound of a rustling leaves or a broken twig will send the deer into the next wood before you've even seen them.

If your going to see any deer at all first light and an hour after will probably be as successfull as the rest of the day put together, but you could stumble across one at any time.

Keep an eye open for narrow well worn walkways through feilds/ferns say 9'' to a foot wide, some of these tracks can be hundreds of years old and used by Fox, hare and deer. see what happens to them when passing through hedges/ fences is there any signs of tracks or hair, these walkways could be used daily.

Have a drive round your local green fields and stop at every gate or look through the hedges Roe deer love to nibble the shoots at this time of year, but they re not to keen on fields with sheep or cows in, but I have seen them share a field with horses.

I hope you get started soon and just one more thing Ive just looked at my gallery and I have 50 odd shots of deer and only 4 were taken whilst laying in wait, so keep walking in the shadows with the wind in your face on the path, GOOD LUCK

Regards
Rob

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by mh68

Unfortunate news about the Deer lick Roy. Did they offer a reason as to why theyre not allowed?

Mark H

I would imagine that its a point of principal - if they start allowing people to put down licks , bait etc it could be the thin end of the wedge , once a precedent is set it is very difficult to say no in future.

and then you get to issues with animals becoming dependent on baiting sites, people using unsuitable substances , etc etc - better from the FE point of view to just have a blanket ban than to create a situation which is hard to police.

[muldonach]

Originally Posted by eeyore

I would imagine that its a point of principal - if they start allowing people to put down licks , bait etc it could be the thin end of the wedge , once a precedent is set it is very difficult to say no in future.

and then you get to issues with animals becoming dependent on baiting sites, people using unsuitable substances , etc etc - better from the FE point of view to just have a blanket ban than to create a situation which is hard to police.

In no way disagreeing with eeyore I suspect it is not just a point of principle but follows the practical point that artificial concentrations of wild animals tends to encourage the spread of disease and parasites as well as provide opportunity and temptation for poaching or cruelty.

In response to the original poster's query whilst I have no knowledge of these particular woods if they are being regularly visited by dog walkers, then the deer will adapt their living to the environment and withdraw before the dog walkers arrive. In general they prefer a quiet life, unrestrained dogs are a nuisance where deer (or any other form of game) are present.

The other thing I would suggest, and contrary to some previous advice, is to adopt an altogether more stationary approach - it is pointless to penetrate to the middle of a wood on foot before it is light enough for you to see what you are looking for - all you have done is alert every wild animal on the downwind side and within earshot that you are there. If as you describe the wood gets busy soon after dawn then my suggestion would be to arrive in the evening when things are hopefully quietening down, there will be plenty of noise so your arrival will be lost in amongst the remaining walkers etc. Deer which have not been able to feed during the day will be keen to get to some browse. If the disturbance you describe goes on into the evening then it is unlikely that there is much of a permanent deer population.

It reallly does sound as if you need a better and quieter location if you want to see deer

regards
mac

[Royalist]

Originally Posted by muldonach

In no way disagreeing with eeyore I suspect it is not just a point of principle but follows the practical point that artificial concentrations of wild animals tends to encourage the spread of disease and parasites as well as provide opportunity and temptation for poaching or cruelty.

In response to the original poster's query whilst I have no knowledge of these particular woods if they are being regularly visited by dog walkers, then the deer will adapt their living to the environment and withdraw before the dog walkers arrive. In general they prefer a quiet life, unrestrained dogs are a nuisance where deer (or any other form of game) are present.

The other thing I would suggest, and contrary to some previous advice, is to adopt an altogether more stationary approach - it is pointless to penetrate to the middle of a wood on foot before it is light enough for you to see what you are looking for - all you have done is alert every wild animal on the downwind side and within earshot that you are there. If as you describe the wood gets busy soon after dawn then my suggestion would be to arrive in the evening when things are hopefully quietening down, there will be plenty of noise so your arrival will be lost in amongst the remaining walkers etc. Deer which have not been able to feed during the day will be keen to get to some browse. If the disturbance you describe goes on into the evening then it is unlikely that there is much of a permanent deer population.

It reallly does sound as if you need a better and quieter location if you want to see deer

regards
mac

Thanks Mac and to all you others for YOUR input.

In the case of the woods that I have been walking, I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that there is a low deer population, if in fact there is one at all, except for the occasional visitors.

However, I am booking for a Forestry Comm organised event in October in woodland close to Exeter racecourse. 6:30am start preceded by a two hour journey to reach the place. How is that for dedication?

I don't believe that there is a resident deer population in Cornwall! However, I will keep a weather eye open for oak trees. Thanks Derelict

Roy