The case summed up Despite the fact that we shoot more deer each year, the population is increasing sharply. At the same time, the average age and slaughter weight are decreasing, especially in young animals. On average, the weight of young animals has decreased by around 6 percent in Vestland since 2015. Deer expert Johan Trygve Solheim asks hunters to shoot more deer calves instead of hunting large trophy animals. Solheim also believes that the hunters must become less preoccupied with trophy animals with huge antlers that can be hung on the wall. Game manager Caroline Ertsås Christie in Bergen municipality says that small herds have small calves, which are born late in the season and have too little time to grow before winter. Solheim underlines that the effort I make means something to improve the deer population. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – This is 30 years of work! Deer hunter John Hermund Hauge proudly displays the hunting trophy he has hanging in the outhouse. – I think all hunters should be allowed to shoot a big buck during their career, he says. But in the future he should stop hunting large antlers, says deer expert Johan Trygve Solheim. He is concerned about the development of the deer population in Norway. Despite the fact that we shoot several animals each year, the population increases sharply. Antler collection for the deer hunter. Photo: Benjamin Dyrdal / news At the same time, both the average age and slaughter weight are falling, especially for young animals, according to figures from the Deer Register. Solheim largely blames the hunters for the deer becoming younger and leaner. – There has been too much focus on trophies. It has been a tragedy in that if everyone wants to shoot these bucks, then there will be fewer of them, says Solheim. Johan Trygve Solheim tells hunters to go after the smaller animals. Photo: Andrine Gald Myklebust / news Asks hunters to drop the trophy hunt Around 50,000 deer will be shot in the run-up to Christmas in Norway. Around half of them are in Vestland county alone. While it is natural for weak animals to succumb and the strongest to survive – much of the hunt has been opposed. Solheim therefore believes that one should rather shoot calves and young animals. Especially now when it’s mating season, he believes that trophy animals should be allowed more peace, so that they can mate with larger offspring. – Now it’s estrus, now they will be out in the forest and mate for the next generation. They should not hang on the wall, says the deer expert. He asks the hunters to work hard to reverse the negative trend of leaner animals: The hunters must become less preoccupied with trophy animals with huge antlers that can be hung on the wall. Instead, they should shoot calves, Solheim believes. – We must raise the average age in the stocks. For the last 70 years, we have harvested by taking the best and biggest animals, he says. Deer hunter John Hermund Hauge skins and butchers a deer he shot the night before. Photo: Benjamin Dyrdal – Small animals breed small animals On average, the weight of young animals has decreased by around 6 per cent in Vestland since 2015. This development has also been seen in Bergen, which is a large deer municipality. Young colts in particular have had a significant weight loss, also this year, according to game manager Caroline Ertsås Christie in Bergen municipality. – Small cows have small calves. They are often born late in the season and have too little time to grow before winter. Then we have a downward spiral with small animals breeding small animals in the future, says Christie. Adult males (here bucks in their prime, assumed to be 12 years old) and adult head animals are important to ensure robust populations. Solheim believes young deer, such as the one in the middle of this photo, are the ones that should be shot. Photo: Johan Trygve Solheim / Norwegian Deer Center and Kvalstad Gård It is the individual municipality that controls how many and what animals can be hunted. In Bergen, they have followed the advice to shoot more animals, and especially calves. Christie hopes they will succeed by cutting the stock and getting a better gender and age distribution, but points out that it will take a few years to see changes in slaughter weight. Solheim underlines that the efforts I make matter. – If everyone joins in and contributes, I have great faith that this will turn out well, says the deer expert. John Hermund Hauge believes that all hunters should be able to shoot a big buck in their lifetime. Photo: Benjamin Dyrdal / news I think the occasional buck can be shot – Reason must be used, but that there is a basis for taking out the occasional big buck, that’s enough, says deer hunter Hauge. In the middle of his outhouse hangs a freshly shorn deer that he is skinning and butchering. But he doesn’t get anything from it for the collection. – This is an older group. She was calfless. I guess she is 2.5 years old and around 50 kilos, he says and rinses blood from his gloves. – I try to avoid shooting calves. It is important to keep them alive, says Hauge. Published 17.10.2024, at 18.25 Updated 17.10.2024, at 19.02
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Expert blames the hunters – news Vestland
