Abstract
Ecological research on a marked population of roe deer in Dorset between 1965–9 shows that the social behaviour of territorial bucks and adult does is an important factor in regulating the permanent breeding population. Most territorial bucks remain in the same territories for several years with little overlap between adjacent territories and their aggressive behaviour in April-August causes 1–3-year-old bucks without territories to emigrate. Adult does show similar site attachments but with considerable overlap between home ranges. Established does apparently prevent yearling does from remaining in the population but the mechanism involved is not known. Removal experiments show that non-territorial bucks replace territorial bucks and yearling does replace adult does. This indicates the presence of surplus animals which are prevented from establishing themselves by the behaviour of the territorial bucks and adult does. Management proposals and suggestions for future research are made. The present policy of the Forestry Commission to control fraying damage by shooting non-territorial bucks and leaving territorial bucks appears to be correct.
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