Fallow deer

The beautiful fallow deer (Dama dama) with its impressive horns was brought to Sweden as a game animal for hunting in the 16th century. The fallow deer is related to other deer such as reindeer and red deer.

Comes in many colors

In summer, the fallow deer often has a reddish-brown coat with white spots, while in winter it has a more grayish-brown coat. However, the color variation in their coat is great, ranging from almost pure white to dark brown. The fallow deer can be distinguished from our other native deer by its tail – it's longer, black on top and light on the underside.

Flat and wide horns

Only the male has the typical horns of the species, which are flat and wide on full-grown animals. Younger animals have narrower horns without branches. At 5–6 years of age, the wide and flat horns are fully developed.

Fast in flight

The fallow deer has a particular movement called stotting. The animal bounces with pretty much straight legs as it flees. It's an energy-intensive way of moving, but it probably has several advantages: it provides rapid acceleration, the jumps make it possible for them to see the terrain, and the thumps on the ground serve as a warning signal to the rest of the flock.

Social animals

When food is plentiful, fallow deer can gather in large herds, but they can also move in smaller groups. During the rut, males attract females. In the power struggles that take place between males in this period, their horns come into play.

Quick facts

Food: Herbs, grasses, leaves, browse and other plants
Weight: Sometimes over 100 kg, usually less
Height: Up to 100 cm
Mating season: Autumn
Young: Usually a fawn born in May–June
Lifespan: Up to 20 years

  • The fallow deer is relatively easy to keep in enclosures and is therefore used as livestock.
  • Hunting fallow deer is common among hunters in Sweden, and it's popularity only seems to be increasing.
  • Fallow deer can also wreak havoc on agriculture by eating crops and causing bedding and trampling damage.

Mild winters have increased the number of fallow deer

Moved north from southern Europe

Historically, the fallow deer is likely to have been present across much of the European continent. The species probably died out in many areas but remained in the southern parts of Europe. Through deliberate stocking and escapes from enclosures, their distribution has increased again.

Long-standing presence in Slottsskogen

Slottsskogen was one of the first places in Sweden where fallow deer was added to the game population. The area was the king's hunting and farming land when the animals were imported in the 16th century. A few hundred years later, when parts of Slottsskogen became a park, the first deer enclosures were built.

Least concern species

During the 2000s, the Swedish fallow deer population increased in the southern and central parts of Sweden. The fallow deer is classified as a least concern species with the exception of a single population which is considered to be the original subspecies. This very small group of animals is found in Turkey.

Competing with elk for browse

According to researchers, the smaller deer compete with elk for the browse in the forest. Elk prefer to eat more pine when they are in the same area as deer. This causes great damage to trees which creates problems for the forestry industry, resulting in the active reduction of the elk population through hunting.