Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria

Over the years 2015–2017 roe deer’s condition was analyzed (N = 145) in the north-western part of the Greater Poland by examining two factors: (1) field dressed weight (in the case of adult males – after cutting off their head as well), and (2) the length of the mandible. Field dressed weight of adult males (bucks) in the analyzed region was approximately 15.6 kg, while in the case of adult females (does) it was approx. 15.4 kg.
Field dressed weight of fawns (6–9 months old) was approx. 9.2 kg and was significantly lower than that of adult individuals. There were no significant differences between field dressed weight of the first age class of bucks (second and third year of life) and the second age class of bucks (fourth year of life and older) and in the case of does in corresponding age classes. The average length of the mandible in males was 154 mm and was comparable to that of does (153 mm). The mandibles of fawns were on average 130 mm long and were significantly shorter than in adult roe deer. Both among bucks and does differences in mandible length were found between the first and second age classes. Field dressed weight and the length of mandible of roe deer were correlated, with a stronger relationship observed in the case of fawns than in the case of adults. The study showed that several indexes need to be taken into consideration when determining body condition of individual animals in a roe deer population. Body weight of bucks, does and fawns differs not only among regions, but also within individual areas. Changes within an area may be dependent on short-term differences in environmental conditions, e.g. the weather in the vegetation season or during winter and the resulting availability and quality of food.