Variation in roe trophies

With the roe rut coming to an end, is it fair to say that some years produce more very large medal-class trophies than others? This year in my local area, trophies of any size and shape seem to have been in very short supply, even from bucks that were judged as mature and whose average age was certainly above three years.

One fact that emerges when you look at the records is that, over the years, more and more large trophies have been taken. While that may be attributed to increased stalking effort and a larger population, it also is related to diet and access to nutrition.

Recently, the most standout year was 2006, when the overall UK record was broken twice. This year, the portents seem good with one 200-plus-point head from Scotland and some exceptional heads from England.

Perhaps in your area you have been unlucky, or it is possible the animals you are targeting are not as mature as you think. IW