trophy Fallow deer

[Ethan]

I am going on a fallow deer hunt in Augest and I have never hunted them before I have seen pictures before but I dont know what to look for in a trophy fallow so i am looking to you guys to help me.

[Graybeard]

This is my opinion and might vary from that of others.

What I look for in a fallow is the palmation. I want it to be at least as wide as my palm and around a foot or more long with that width. Lots of points are also nice. Don't shoot one without decent palms it's not a trophy.

Here is mine and it is exactly how I pictured the buck I wanted to take.


Here are the bucks taken by the folks who were hunting with me. The first one actually out scores mine by a few points using ROE scoring system but isn't what I look for in a fallow.



This last one is not a trophy by any stretch of my imagination. It was taken while he rested over the hood of a Lincoln Town Car in the parking lot at the lodge not while out hunting.

[drdougrx]

OK...here's what you look for.

A wide, square looking rack as you look at the deer from the front, a V shaped rack is a 2 or 3 yo and may not have the main beam length.  Then look for wide, long palms, al least as wide as your hand, and then long points off the palms...the more the better.  And then...look for long brow tines that hook at the tips (carefull, browtines are often broken) and mass...look for antlers that look heavy.  In truth and after shooting a few, I'd strongly recommend that you hold out till you find one you like and shoot that one.  Fallow, more than any other exotic in my opinion, has the MOST variation and a "better one" is just around the corner.  Above all, have fun!

Here are a few of mine:


Texas 1995



New York 2001


New York 2004


Vermont 2005


Vermont 2007

[markc]

Doug, either the photography has improved over the years, or your last deer is the best!  I have yet to shoot a fallow deer.

[drdougrx]

LOL!

The last one IS the best...but...I plan to do better!!!  ALWAYS in the market for a better fallow!

[T.R.]

The Doc has excellent wisdom to share.

I'm thoroughly pleased to see interest in hunting fallow deer in N. America.  This is an outstanding animal that receives very little attention from the big magazines. My Dad (1922-2004) took a big fallow buck within Spain in early 1960's during his USAF career.  I have the skull with antlers - it's huge!  Dad hunted with a Spanish guide in the foothills of Pyrenees Mts.  He took the big buck with his 300 Savage lever action at approx 125 yards.

In summary, fallow deer are fairly common throughout Europe and portions of mid-East.  They're quite abundant within N. America, too.  But there is very little respect in written print.  Perhaps this will change within my lifetime.

TR

This photo was sent to me by a friend.  Truthfully, I've never met this hunter.

[drdougrx]

Hey TR!!

I love fallow...the variation in antlers is tremendous and the venison is wonderful.  Spanish fallow are worls renoun and are the big estate fallow in england. 

I MAY look for a bigger one this fall......we'll see.

[JeffG]

Doug, either the photography has improved over the years, or your last deer is the best!

I noticed that too! All the trophies posted here are great!  Thanks for sharing.

[drdougrx]

Thanks Jeff....heading to Wild Hill Sept. 30th with a few folks....including our GB bud Mikey...and meeting Mike103 and 15 of his closest friends from PA!! 

Hope to do better in the Fallow department....unless I can shake a few more $$ from the trees and terrorize the red stag population!