SPORTING ANSWERS

Breeding questions on the UK’s Chinese water deer

STALKING

Q When does the Chinese water deer (CWD) rut take place, when are the young born and is it true that the young can breed in the year that they were born?

A In England, the CWD rut takes place over seven to eight weeks, mainly in December with some activity expected in the last week of November right through until Tanuary.

Gestation is estimated at being between 165 and 210 days, so the young are born between mid-May and Tuly. They are weaned around the three-month mark and by the time they reach six months old are about 80% of their adult weight. The rutting period in England matches the one in China.

CWD have multiple births, with up to seven foetuses recorded. In the UK, twins are often born and the young will remain with their mother until the autumn. They are sexually mature by the time of the following rut when they are between five and eight months old, so they are capable of breeding in the year that they are born. IW

Gralloch without gloves?

STALKING

Q I was taught to gralloch deer wearing latex or nitrile gloves, and I have always done Now I am finding it almost impossible to obtain these gloves because they are being sold as personal protective equipment for