The six wild deer species found in the UK are red, roe, fallow, sika, muntjac and Chinese water deer. Use this quick reference to compare their breeding calendars and remember which open seasons apply in each country.
Remember the pattern: roe rut in summer; red, sika and fallow in autumn; water deer in winter. Muntjac breed throughout the year.
A rut is the breeding season. An open season is a legal period for taking or killing deer, subject to other requirements. They are different calendars: a deer being in rut does not tell you whether it is in season.
Rut dates, births and gestation
These are typical biological periods, not fixed dates. Timing varies between places, years and individual animals. The species links below lead to the British Deer Society’s accounts. The sika dates also use its identification leaflet (PDF) and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust sika profile.
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| Species | Typical rut / mating | Usual births | Approximate gestation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red deer | Late September–November | Mid-May–mid-July | 8 months |
| Roe deer | Mid-July–mid-August | May–June | 9 months, including delayed implantation |
| Fallow deer | Mainly October | June–July | About 8 months (229 days) |
| Sika deer | Late September–November | Early May–July | 7½ months |
| Muntjac | All year; no fixed rut | All year | 7 months |
| Chinese water deer | November–December | May–July | 6–7 months |
Roe are the exception to remember: mating happens in summer, but the embryo’s development is delayed so the young arrive the following spring. Muntjac have no single birthing season, so dependent young may be present at any time. Sources: BDS roe deer and BDS muntjac.
Open seasons: England and Wales
All dates below are inclusive. Ranges such as August–April cross into the following calendar year. These are the ordinary open seasons, not the close seasons or special exceptions. They apply in Hampshire as elsewhere in England.
| Species | Male open season | Female open season |
|---|---|---|
| Red deer | 1 August–30 April | 1 November–31 March |
| Roe deer | 1 April–31 October | 1 November–31 March |
| Fallow deer | 1 August–30 April | 1 November–31 March |
| Sika deer | 1 August–30 April | 1 November–31 March |
| Muntjac | All year; no close season | All year; no close season |
| Chinese water deer | 1 November–31 March | 1 November–31 March |
Memory aid for England and Wales: females are November–March, except muntjac. Roe bucks are April–October. Red, fallow and sika males are August–April. Water deer share the November–March season for both sexes.
Sources: Deer Act 1991, Schedule 1 (close seasons) and British Deer Society open-season chart.
Open seasons: Scotland
Male deer have no close season in Scotland, following the change effective from 21 October 2023. The female seasons below are different from England and Wales. All dates are inclusive.
| Species | Male open season | Female open season |
|---|---|---|
| Red deer | All year; no close season | 21 October–15 February |
| Roe deer | All year; no close season | 21 October–31 March |
| Fallow deer | All year; no close season | 21 October–15 February |
| Sika deer | All year; no close season | 21 October–15 February |
Memory aid for Scotland: the four listed female seasons start on 21 October; roe extend to 31 March, the others to 15 February.
This table covers Scotland’s four established species. The BDS chart does not list Scottish seasons for muntjac or Chinese water deer; do not import their England and Wales dates into Scotland.
Sources: NatureScot deer management FAQs, 2023 close-season amendment and BDS open-season chart.
Open seasons: Northern Ireland
The statutory close-season schedule covers red, fallow and sika deer, including their hybrids. The PSNI wildlife guide also lists muntjac as having a year-round open season. All dates are inclusive.
| Species | Male open season | Female open season |
|---|---|---|
| Red deer | 1 August–30 April | 1 November–31 March |
| Fallow deer | 1 August–30 April | 1 November–31 March |
| Sika deer | 1 August–30 April | 1 November–31 March |
| Muntjac | All year; no close season | All year; no close season |
Do not use the England and Wales table as a substitute for Northern Ireland legislation for other species. The BDS chart notes that roe and Chinese water deer are not present in Northern Ireland.
Sources: Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, Schedule 10 as amended by the 2011 Act, section 28, and the PSNI wildlife guide (PDF).
An open season is not blanket permission. Land permissions, firearms requirements, welfare duties and other restrictions still apply. Specific licences or authorisations may permit activity outside ordinary seasons. Check the linked legislation and current guidance before planning deer management.
Six species, six memory cues
Only red and roe are native; the other four were introduced. See the BDS species overview for their origins and the names for males, females and young.
These are reminders, not a complete identification key. Antlers, coats and appearance change with age, sex and season; use several features together.
- Red: “red roar”. Our largest deer; mature stags have branching antlers and roar during the autumn rut. Male: stag; female: hind; young: calf. BDS red deer.
- Roe: “roe rut in summer”. A pale rump, no obvious tail and short antlers on bucks. Remember delayed implantation. Male: buck; female: doe; young: kid. BDS roe deer.
- Fallow: “flat antlers”. Mature bucks have broad, flattened antlers. Coat colours vary, so spots alone are not a reliable guide. Male: buck; female: doe; young: fawn. BDS fallow deer.
- Sika: “sika whistle”. Stags make a distinctive high-pitched rutting call. A pale rump bordered with black is another clue. Male: stag; female: hind; young: calf. BDS sika deer.
- Muntjac: “months don’t matter”. Breeding and births occur all year. Small, often hunched in outline, with short antlers on bucks. Male: buck; female: doe; young: fawn. BDS muntjac.
- Water deer: “winter rut, without antlers”. Neither sex grows antlers; males have prominent tusks. Male: buck; female: doe; young: fawn. BDS Chinese water deer.
Common deer-season questions
When is the deer rut in the UK?
There is no single rut for all UK deer. Roe mate in summer; red, sika and fallow mainly in autumn; Chinese water deer in early winter. Muntjac breed throughout the year. Use the species table above for the typical months.
When are baby deer born?
For most UK species, births are concentrated in late spring and early summer. Muntjac are the year-round exception. The British Deer Society’s birth dates survey records variation, including births outside the usual periods.
Are deer open seasons the same across the UK?
No. Check the country, species and sex. Scotland’s male deer close seasons were removed in 2023, while female dates still differ by species. England and Wales share a table; Northern Ireland has its own legislation.
Does “no close season” mean a deer has no dependent young?
No. Muntjac can have dependent young at any time of year. Legal season dates and breeding biology answer different questions; both matter when planning management.
Sources and further reading
This reference was compiled by Wellow Land & Wildlife from the legislation, NatureScot guidance, British Deer Society species accounts and GWCT information linked beside each table. Sources checked on 11 October 2026. Biological dates are typical windows; legal dates should be rechecked against the current source before use.
For more context, read our UK deer species guide, learn why deer management matters, or explore our deer management services in Hampshire.