Diary

Why Deer Are Drawn to Herbal Mineral Licks: A Biological and Wildlife Management Perspective Cervids, especially red deer (Cervus elaphus), display remarkably sophisticated mineral-seeking behavior rooted in complex physiological needs and evolutionary adaptations. Modern scientific research clearly demonstrates that minerals make up roughly 5% of a deer’s body mass and play a critical role in…

Increased Game Movement Following Summer Thunderstorms Summary The increase in game movement observed after summer showers and thunderstorms, particularly in wild boar, is the result of a combined effect of complex ecological, physiological, and behavioral factors. The phenomenon is not rooted in a fundamental increase in the animals’ energy needs, but rather in the more…

This morning around 2 a.m., a fine middle-aged stag paid a visit to the feeder. I hadn’t seen a red deer show up here at all in the past six months. Early in the morning, the big sounder once again dropped by the set table. Unfortunately my plans for a technical upgrade "went up in…

The large sounder living in the area visited the clearing feeder again, after many days. Even on uneventful days, the feeder kept dispensing around 5 kg of corn kernels daily, spreading them nice and evenly over the feeder’s area. This steadily increasing amount of corn, sitting on the ground getting a bit rained on, softening,…

The planned automatic feeder tank is now complete. The outer pipe is a 400 mm diameter KG pipe, while the inner one is a 160 mm diameter pipe. The larger tank holds 4 bags (33 kg/bag) of corn, while the inner one holds about 25 kg of special treats. What exactly goes into this smaller…

On the first hunting day of my usual monthly hunt in July, near the Nagy-Zöld wallow, I sat out in a stand set up 7 m high, hidden in a blackthorn bush. During the night only a few red deer passed through the stretch of forest at the edge of the wallow, but just after…

The Use of Beech Tar in Wildlife Management and Conservation: A Case Study in Wild Boar Population Management Abstract Beech tar, as a natural substance, has long been a tool used in wildlife management, particularly in managing wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations. This paper reviews the attractive effect of beech tar on wild boar, its…

Study: The importance of the alder-ash and Turkey oak-oak wetland habitats of the Somogy hills for big game during summer droughts Introduction: The wet woodland-interior habitats of the Somogy hills in Hungary (mainly alder-ash and Turkey oak-oak associations) are key, though often underappreciated, elements of the landscape. These habitats become especially vital during the increasingly…