Balancing act of the Breckland red deer

Deer have never been under so much pressure anywhere in the UK, but particularly now in England the spotlight is on them, and all but the most stubborn of landowners are under pressure to shoot more than they ever have. Two species in East Anglia that this applies to the most are fallow and red, not only for the habitat damage they cause but, more relevant to farmers, the crop damage that can run into thousands of pounds.

For the Breckland red deer this is a serious issue and one that the herd will have to cope with, probably to their detriment for the foreseeable future. It’s a famous population of deer known for its record body size and antler production that’s regularly in the top 10 of the UK CIC Trophy Evaluation Board’s records.

Red deer have been recorded in the region for thousands