Field signs
Fallow deer slots are sheep-like. Fallow deer damage to vegetation can be confused with that caused by other deer species or even by sheep. Their herding behaviour and the distinctive palmate male antlers make visible confusion with other deer species unlikely. However, fallow deer are wary animals that will, except sometimes in parks, often initially freeze on human approach and then suddenly run away.
Habits
Fallow deer are crepuscular and not often seen away from parks. They often favour deciduous woodland wherever they occur. Groups of males and females live in loose herds all year, but males become more solitary as their antlers mature and they become aggressive in the rut in early autumn.
Reproduction and life cycle
A single fawn is born in June or July after a gestation period of about eight months. Multiple births are extremely rare. Fallow deer live for about eight to 10 years in the wild.
Distribution, status and conservation
Fallow deer distribution is concentrated on the Kent/Sussex border and in parts of the Weald and east Kent, except in Thanet and Romney Marsh. They also occur in deer parks such as Boughton Monchelsea, Knole Park and Mersham-le-Hatch. The recorded distribution has probably altered little in the last 50 years as they are fairly slow to disperse and use new sites.
In England there is an annual closed season for shooting fallow deer, from 1st May to 31st July for males and 1st April to 31st October for females.
