Have a personal or library account? Click to login

Tracking population trends: Insights from deer hunting harvests in the Baltics, Central, and Eastern Europe

Open Access
|May 2025

References

  1. Adhikari, L., Khan, B., Joshi, S., Ruijun, L., Ali, G., Shah, G. M. et al., 2021: Community-based trophy hunting programs secure biodiversity and livelihoods: Learnings from Asia’s high mountain communities and landscapes. Environmental Challenges, 4:100175.
  2. Akoglu, H., 2018: User’s guide to correlation coefficients. Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine, 18:91–93.
  3. Almasan, H., 1988: Bonitatea fondurilor de vânătoare și efectivele la principalele specii de vânat. Redacția de propagandă tehnică agricolă, București. n Romanian).
  4. Amos, M., Baxter, G., Finch, N., Lisle, A., Murray, P., 2014: I just want to count them! Considerations when choosing a deer population monitoring method. Wildlife Biology, 20:362–370.
  5. Angelstam, P., Manton, M., Pedersen, S., Elbakidze, M., 2017: Disrupted trophic interactions affect recruitment of boreal deciduous and coniferous trees in northern Europe. Ecological Applications, 27:1108–1123.
  6. Apollonio, M., Andersen, R., Putman, R., 2010: European Ungulates and their Management in the 21st Century. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 604 p.
  7. Apollonio, M., Belkin, V. V., Borkowski, J., Borodin, O. I., Borowik, T., Cagnacci, F. et al., 2017: Challenges and science-based implications for modern management and conservation of European ungulate populations. Mammal Research, 62:209–217.
  8. Balčiauskas, L., Kawata, Y., 2022: Red Deer in Lithuania: History, Status and Management. Sustainability, 14:14091.
  9. Balčiauskas, L., 2024: Roe Deer, Lithuania’s Smallest and Most Abundant Cervid. Forests, 15:767.
  10. Ballard, W. B., 2003: Deer-predator relationship. Mule Deer Conservation: Issues and Management Strategies, 177–218.
  11. Barton, O., Gresham, A., Healey, J. R., Cordes, L. S., Shannon, G., 2022: The effects of population management on wild ungulates: A systematic map of evidence for UK species. PLoS ONE, 17:e0267385.
  12. Baumanis, J., Rungis, D. E., Gailite, A., Gaile, A., Done, G., Lukins, M. et al., 2018: Genetic Structure of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus L.) – A Review of the Population and its Reintroduction in Latvia. Baltic Forestry, 24:296–303.
  13. Bernard, M., Gamelon, M., Boulanger, V., Dupouey, J. L., Laurent, L., Laurent, L. et al., 2017: Deer browsing promotes Norway spruce at the expense of silver fir in the forest regeneration phase. Forest Ecology and Management, 400:269–277.
  14. Bernes, C., Macura, B., Jonsson, B. G., Junninen, K., Müller, J., Sandström, J. et al., 2018: Manipulating ungulate herbivory in temperate and boreal forests: Effects on vegetation and invertebrates. A systematic review. Environmental Evidence, 7:1–32.
  15. Bijl, H., Csányi, S., 2022: Fallow Deer (Dama dama) Population and Harvest Changes in Europe since the Early 1980s. Sustainability, 14:12198.
  16. Bishara, A. J., Hittner, J. B., 2012: Testing the significance of a correlation with nonnormal data: Comparison of Pearson, Spearman, transformation, and resampling approaches. Psychological Methods, 17:399–417.
  17. Bleier, N., Kovács, I., Schally, G., Szemethy, L., Csányi, S., 2017: Spatial and temporal characteristics of the damage caused by wild ungulates in maize (Zea mays L.) crops. International Journal of Pest Management, 63:92–100.
  18. Burbaitė, L., Csányi, S., 2009: Roe deer population and harvest changes in Europe. Estonian Journal of Ecology, 58:169–180.
  19. Burbaite, L., Csányi, S., 2010: Red deer population and harvest changes in Europe. Acta Zoologica Lituanica, 20:179–188.
  20. Carpio, A. J., Acevedo, P., Villafuerte-Jordán, R., Rodríguez, R. S., Pascual-Rico, R., Martínez-Jauregui, M., 2024: Knowledge, perception, and awareness of society regarding (over)abundance of wild ungulate populations. Ecology and Society, 29:24.
  21. Carvalho, J., Hipólito, D., Teixeira, D., Fonseca, C., Torres, R. T., 2024: Hunting bag statistics of wild mammals in Portugal (1989–2022): on the need to improve data report and compilation. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 70:96.
  22. Cermák, P., Mrkva, R., 2000: Browsing damage to broadleaves in some national nature reserves (Czech Republic) in 2000–2001. Ekológia (Bratislava), 22:394–403.
  23. Cermak P., Mrkva R., 2006: Effects of game on the condition and development of natural regeneration in the Vrapač National Nature Reserve (Litovelské Pomoraví). Journal of Forest Science, 52:329–336.
  24. Chapman, N., Chapman, D., 1980: The distribution of fallow deer: a worldwide review. Mammal Review, 10:61–138.
  25. Chapron, G., Kaczensky, P., Linnell, J. D. C., Von Arx, M., Huber, D., Andrén, H., 2014: Recovery of large carnivores in Europe’s modern human-dominated landscapes. Science, 346:35–51.
  26. Clark, T. J., Hebblewhite, M., 2021: Predator control may not increase ungulate populations in the future: A formal meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Ecology, 58:812–824.
  27. Clutton-Brock, T. H., Lonergan, M. E., 1994: Culling Regimes and Sex Ratio Biases in Highland Culling regimes and sex ratio biases in Highland red deer. Journal of Applied Ecology, 31:3.
  28. Clutton-Brock, T. H., Coulson, T. N., Milner-Gulfland, E. J., Thomson, D., Armstrong, H. M., 2002: Sex differences in emigration and mortality affect optimal management of deer populations. Nature, 415:633–637.
  29. Cook-Patton, S. C., LaForgia, M., Parker, J. D., 2014: Positive interactions between herbivores and plant diversity shape forest regeneration. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281:20140261.
  30. Cotta, V., Bodea, M., Micu, I., 2001: Vânatul şi vânătoarea în România, Bucharest, Editura Ceres, 786p. (In Romanian).
  31. Coulson, T., 1999: The Science of Overabundance: Deer Ecology and Population Management. Biodiversity and Conservation, 8:1719–1721.
  32. Cutini, A., Chianucci, F., Apollonio, M., 2015: Wild ungulates and forests in Europe: insights from long term studies in Central Italy. In: Atti del II Congresso Internazionale di Selvicoltura. Progettare il futuro per il settore forestale, Firenze, 26–29 novembre 2014. Firenze: Accademia Italiana di Scienze Forestali. Vol. 1, p. 509–517. Available at https://doi.org/10.4129/2cis-ac-wil.
  33. Daniels, M. J., 2006: Estimating red deer Cervus elaphus populations: An analysis of variation and cost-effectiveness of counting methods. Mammal Review, 36:235–247.
  34. Davis, A. J., Keiter, D. A., Kierepka, E. M., Slootmaker, C., Piaggio, A. J., Beasley, J. C. et al., 2020: A comparison of cost and quality of three methods for estimating density for wild pig (Sus scrofa). Scientific Reports, 10:2047.
  35. De Marinis, A. M., Chirichella, R., Apollonio, M., 2022: Common Fallow Deer Dama dama (Linnaeus, 1758). In: Corlatti, L., Zachos, F. E. (eds): Terrestrial Cetartiodactyla. Handbook of the Mammals of Europe. Cham, Springer, pp.115–154.
  36. Monte-Luna, P., Brook, B. W., Zetina-Rejón, M. J., Cruz-Escalona, V. H., 2004: The carrying capacity of ecosystems. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 13:485–495.
  37. Delahay, R. J., Smith, G. C., Barlow, A. M., Walker, N., Harris, A., Clifton-Hadley, R. S. et al., 2007: Bovine tuberculosis infection in wild mammals in the South-West region of England: A survey of prevalence and a semi-quantitative assessment of the relative risks to cattle. The Veterinary Journal, 173:287–301.
  38. Done, G., Ozoliņš, J., Bagrade, G., Jansons, J., Baumanis, J., Vecvanags, A. et al., 2024: A case study for best suitable methods of monitoring demographic structure in cervid populations to predict increasing forest damages. Silva Fennica, 58:23025.
  39. Drexhage, M., Colin, F., 2003: Effects of browsing on shoots and roots of naturally regenerated sessile oak seedlings. Annals of Forest Science, 60:173–178.
  40. Drimaj, J., Skoták, V., Kamler, J., Plhal, R., Adamec, Z., Mikulka, O. et al., 2023: Comparison of Methods for Estimating Damage by Wild Ungulates on Field Crops. Agriculture, 13:1184.
  41. Edenius, L., Ericsson, G., 2015: Effects of ungulate browsing on recruitment of aspen and rowan: a demographic approach. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, 30:283–288.
  42. Eliason, S. L., 1999: The illegal taking of wildlife: Toward a theoretical understanding of poaching. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 4:27–39.
  43. Esattore, B., Saggiomo, L., Sensi, M., Francia, V., Cherin, M., 2022: Tell me what you eat and I’ll tell you…where you live: an updated review of the worldwide distribution and foraging ecology of the fallow deer (Dama dama). Mammalian Biology, 102:321–338.
  44. Ferretti, F., Bertoldi, G., Sforzi, A., Fattorini, L., 2011: Roe and fallow deer: are they compatible neighbours? European Journal of Wildlife Research, 57:775–783.
  45. Festa-Bianchet, M., 2003: Exploitative wildlife management as a selective pressure for the life-history evolution of large mammals. Animal Behavior and Wildlife Conservation, Washington, DC, Island Press, pp. 191–207.
  46. Forsyth, D. M., Comte, S., Davis, N. E., Bengsen, A. J., Côté, S. D., Hewitt, D. G., 2022: Methodology matters when estimating deer abundance: a global systematic review and recommendations for improvements. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 86:e22207.
  47. Fuchs, Z., Vacek, Z., Vacek, S., Gallo, J., 2021: Effect of game browsing on natural regeneration of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests in the Krušné hory Mts. (Czech Republic and Germany). Central European Forestry Journal, 67:166–180.
  48. Gerner, J., Heurich, M., Günther, S., Schraml, U., 2011: Red deer at a crossroads – An analysis of communication strategies concerning wildlife management in the ‘Bayerischer Wald’ National Park, Germany. Journal for Nature Conservation, 19:319–326.
  49. Gill, R. M. A., 1992: A Review of Damage by Mammals in North Temperate Forests: 3. Impact on Trees and Forests. Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research, 65:363–388.
  50. Hardalau, D., Fedorca, M., Popovici, D.-C., Ionescu, G., Fedorca, A., Mirea, I. et al., 2025: Insights in Managing Ungulates Population and Forest Sustainability in Romania. Diversity, 17:194. Available at https://doi.org/10.3390/d17030194.
  51. Heinze, E., Boch, S., Fischer, M., Hessenmöller, D., Klenk, B., Müller, J. et al., 2011: Habitat use of large ungulates in northeastern Germany in relation to forest management. Forest Ecology and Management, 261:288–296.
  52. Heuze, P., Schnitzler, A., Klein, F., 2005: Is browsing the major factor of silver fir decline in the Vosges Mountains of France? Forest Ecology and Management, 217:219–228.
  53. Hewison, A. J. M., Andersen, R., Gaillard, J. M., Linnell, J. D. C., Delorme, D., 1999: Contradictory findings in studies of sex ratio variation in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 45:339–348.
  54. Hothorn, T., Müller, J., 2010: Large-scale reduction of ungulate browsing by managed sport hunting. Forest Ecology and Management, 260:1416–1423.
  55. Ichim, R., 1989: Daunele provocate de cervide in pădurile din Nordul României și măsurile de prevenție, Revista Padurilor, 3:151–154. (In Romanian).
  56. Kaczensky, P., Chapron, G., Arx, M., Huber, D., Andrén, H., Linnell, J., 2013: Status, management and distribution of large carnivores – bear, lynx, wolf & wolverine-in Europe. Available at https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11382.88645.
  57. Konôpka, B., Pajtík, J., Shipley, L. A., 2018: Intensity of red deer browsing on young rowans differs between freshly-felled and standing individuals. Forest Ecology and Management, 429:511–519.
  58. Konôpka, B., Šebeň, V., Pajtík, J., 2024: Bark Browsing and Recovery: A Comparative Study between Douglas Fir and Silver Fir Species in the Western Carpathians. Sustainability, 16:2293.
  59. Konôpka, B., Šebeň, V., 2024: Positive impact of large wild herbivore exclusion on silver fir regeneration: A case study from the Poľana Mountains, Central Slovakia. Central European Forestry Journal, 70:222–234.
  60. Kruuk, L., Clutton-Brock, T., Albon, S., Pemberton, J., Guinness, F., 1999: Population density affects sex ratiovariation in red deer. Nature, 399:459–461.
  61. Langbein, J., Putman, R., Pokorny, B., 2011: Traffic collisions involving deer and other ungulates in Europe and available measures for mitigation. In: Putman, R., Apollonio, M., Andersen, R. (eds.): Ungulate Management in Europe: Problems and Practices. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 215–259.
  62. Linnel, D. C., Aanes, R., Swenson, S., 1997: Translocation of carnivores as a method for managing problem animals: a review. Biodiversity and Conservation, 6:1245–1257.
  63. Linnell, J. D. C., Swenson, J. E., Andersen, R., 2001: Predators and people: Conservation of large carnivores is possible at high human densities if management policy is favourable. Animal Conservation, 4:345–349.
  64. Linnell, J. D. C., Cretois, B., Nilsen, E. B., Rolandsen, C. M., Solberg, E. J., Veiberg, V., 2020: The challenges and opportunities of coexisting with wild ungulates in the human-dominated landscapes of Europe’s Anthropocene. Biological Conservation, 244:108500.
  65. Lovari, S., Serrao, G., Mori, E., 2017: Woodland features determining home range size of roe deer. Behavioural Processes, 140:115–120.
  66. Ludwig, A., Vernesi, C., Lieckfeldt, D., Lattenkamp, E. Z., Wiethölter, A., Lutz, W., 2012: Origin and patterns of genetic diversity of German fallow deer as inferred from mitochondrial DNA. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 58:495–501.
  67. Macdonald, D. W., Johnson, P. J., 2008: Sex ratio variation and mixed pairs in roe deer: evidence for control of sex allocation? Oecologia, 158:361–370.
  68. Marrocoli, S., Nielsen, M. R., Morgan, D., van Loon, T., Kulik, L., Kühl, H., 2019: Using wildlife indicators to facilitate wildlife monitoring in hunter-self monitoring schemes. Ecological Indicators, 105:254–263.
  69. Mesinger, D., Ocieczek, A., 2021: Identification of Differences in Hunting Management in Poland and Selected European Countries in the Context of Sustainable Development. Sustainability, 13:11048.
  70. Milner, J. M., Bonenfant, C., Mysterud, A., Gaillard, J. M., Csányi, S., Stenseth, N. C., 2006: Temporal and spatial development of red deer harvesting in Europe: biological and cultural factors. Journal of Applied Ecology, 43:721–734.
  71. Mysterud, A., Rivrud, I. M., Gundersen, V., Rolandsen, C. M., Viljugrein, H., 2020: The unique spatial ecology of human hunters. Nature Human Behaviour, 4:694–701.
  72. Partl, E., Szinovatz, V., Reimoser, F., Schweiger-Adler, J., 2002: Forest restoration and browsing impact by roe deer. Forest Ecology and Management, 159:87–100.
  73. Pekin, B. K., Wisdom, M. J., Endress, B. A., Naylor, B. J., Parks, C. G., 2014: Ungulate browsing maintains shrub diversity in the absence of episodic disturbance in seasonally-arid conifer forest. PLoS ONE, 9:e86288.
  74. Pellerin, M., Saïd, S., Richard, E., Hamann, J. L., Dubois-Coli, C., Hum, P., 2010: Impact of deer on temperate forest vegetation and woody debris as protection of forest regeneration against browsing. Forest Ecology and Management, 260:429–437.
  75. Ramirez, J. I., Jansen, P. A., Poorter, L., 2018: Effects of wild ungulates on the regeneration, structure and functioning of temperate forests: A semi-quantitative review. Forest Ecology and Management, 424:406–419.
  76. Reimoser, F., Gossow, H., 1996: Impact of ungulates on forest vegetation and its dependence on the silvicultural system. Forest Ecology and Management, 88:107–119.
  77. Reimoser, F., Reimoser, S., 2010: Ungulates and their management in Austria. In: Apollonio, M., Andersen, R., Putman, R. (eds.): European Ungulates and Their Management in the 21st Century. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 338–356.
  78. Reimoser, F., Putman, R., 2011: Impacts of wild ungu-late on vegetation: cost and benefits. In: Putman, R., Apollonio, M., Andersen, R. (eds.): Ungulate Management in Europe: Problems and Practices. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 144–191.
  79. Reimoser, S., Reimoser, F., 2016: Long-term trends of hunting bags and wildlife populations in Austria. Beiträge zur Jagd- und Wildforschung, Bd. 41:45–57.
  80. Ripple, W. J., Beschta, R. L., 2012: Large Predators Limit Herbivore Densities in Northern Forest Ecosystems. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 58:733–742.
  81. Šebeň, V., Konôpka, B., 2024: Assessing the influence of ruminating ungulates on forest regeneration and young stands in Slovakia: Results from the National Forest Inventory. Central European Forestry Journal, 70:222–234.
  82. Shumski, Y., Malazhavski, A., Yurgel, V., 2017: Contemporary State Of Hunting Industry In The Republic Of Belarus. Teka Komisji Ochrony I Kształtowania Środowiska Przyrodniczego, 14:112–123.
  83. Sinclair, A., Fryxell, J., Caughley, G., 2006: Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, and Management (2nd ed.). Malden, Oxford, Blackwell, 469 p.
  84. Sommer, R. S., Fahlke, J. M., Schmölcke, U., Benecke, N., Zachos, F. E., 2009: Quaternary history of the European roe deer Capreolus capreolus. Mammal Review, 39:1–16.
  85. Sunde, P., Kvam, T., Bolstad, J., Bronndal, M., 2000: Foraging of Lynxes in a Managed Boreal-Alpine Environment on JSTOR. Ecography, 23:291–298.
  86. Suzuki, K. K., Watanabe, Y., Kubota, T., Kuwano, Y., Kawauchi, Y., Yamagawa, H. et al., 2021: Large-scale spatial distribution of deer browsing damage to young tree plantations. IForest – Biogeosciences and Forestry, 14:34–40.
  87. Szemethy, L., Heltal, M., Matral, M., Peto, Z., 1998: Home ranges and habitat selection of red deer (Cervus elaphus) on a lowland area. Gibier Faune Sauvage, 15:607–615.
  88. Torres, R. T., Miranda, J., Carvalho, J., Fonseca, C., 2015: Expansion and Current Status of Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) at the Edge of Its Distribution in Portugal. Annales Zoologici Fennici, 52:339–352.
  89. Ueckemann, E., Hansen, P., 2002: Das Damwild (4th ed.). Hamburg und Berlin, Kosmos, 336 p.
  90. van Beeck Calkoen, S. T. S., Kuijper, D. P. J., Apollonio, M., Blondel, L., Dormann, C. F., Storch, I. et al., 2023: Numerical top-down effects on red deer (Cervus elaphus) are mainly shaped by humans rather than large carnivores across Europe. Journal of Applied Ecology, 60:2625–2635.
  91. Vavra, M., Parks, C. G., Wisdom, M. J., 2007: Biodiversity, exotic plant species, and herbivory: The good, the bad, and the ungulate. Forest Ecology and Management, 246:66–72.
  92. Vreugdenhil, S. J., Van Breukelen, L., Egbert, S., Wieren, V., Van Wieren, S. E., 2007: Existing theories do not explain sex ratio variation at birth in monomorphic roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Integrative Zoology, 2:10–18.
  93. Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Available at https://web.dzs.hr/default_e.htm (Accessed on 10 March 2024).
  94. Czech Statistical Office. Available at https://data.csu.gov.cz/datastat/data/ (Accessed on 10 March 2024).
  95. German Hunter Association (Deutscher Jagdschutzver-band). Available at https://www.jagdverband.de/zahlen-fakten/zahlen-zu-jagd-und-jaegern (Accesed on 11 March 2024).
  96. Lovari, S., Lorenzini, R., Masseti, M., Pereladova, O., Carden R. F., Brook, S. M. et al., 2019: The IUCN Red List Of Threatened Species. Available at https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018.
  97. Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania. Available at https://am.lrv.lt/lt/ (Accesed on 11 August 2024).
  98. National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Bela-rus. Available at https://dataportal.belstat.gov.by/osids/rubric-info/1063239 (Accessed on 10 March 2024).
  99. Official statistics of Latvia. Available at https://stat.gov.lv/en/statistics-themes/environment (Accesed on 10 August 2024).
  100. Ordinul Ministerului Mediului, Apelor și Pădurilor nr. 2847/24.11.2022 Studii de Evaluare a Speciilor De Faună Cinegetică în România. Available at http://www.mmediu.ro/categorie/efective/292 (accessed on 5 July 2024).
  101. Polish Forestry Statistical Yearbook 2022. Available at https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/agriculture-forestry/ (Accesed on 11 March 2024).
  102. Slovenian Forest Service. Available at https://pxweb.stat.si/SiStat/en/Podrocja/Index/99/environment (Accesed on 10 March 2024).
  103. STADAT – system of Central Statistical Office Hungary. Available at https://www.ksh.hu/stadat?lang=hu&theme=kor (Accesed on 10 March 2024).
  104. Statistics Austria, STAT Cube – statistical database of statistics Austria. Available at https://www.statistik.at/en/statistics/agriculture-and-forestry/animals-animal-production/hunting (Accessed on 9 March 2024).
  105. Statistics Estonia. Available at https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/statistics-theme/environment (Accessed on 10 March 2024).
  106. Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. Available at https://datacube.statistics.sk/ (Accesed on 10 March 2024).
  107. Switzerland’ Federal Office for the Environment. Available at https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/de/home.html (Accesed on 9 March 2024).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/forj-2025-0001 | Journal eISSN: 2454-0358 | Journal ISSN: 2454-034X
Language: English
Page range: 83 - 96
Published on: May 23, 2025
Published by: National Forest Centre – Forest Research Institute Zvolen
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2025 Ovidiu Ionescu, Darius Hardalau, Mindaugas Bakševičius, Michael Manton, Dan-Cornel Popovici, Codrin Codrean, Georgeta Ionescu, Daniel Iordache, published by National Forest Centre – Forest Research Institute Zvolen
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.