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Simple Summary: The period of intense stalking hunting is recognized as a strong stress factor for game animals. Therefore, the level of stress hormone—cortisol, as well as other selected biochemical parameters—was assessed in the blood plasma of male and female red deer (Cervus elaphus) harvested during stalking hunts. It has been shown that this hunting method has a similar impact on cortisol levels in both bulls and hinds, and age did not affect its magnitude. However, there was an increase in some biochemical parameters (HDL cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase, and alanine aminotransferase) in the blood of hinds and (alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase) in the blood of bulls. It was also found that an increase in the concentration of stress hormone contributes to a reduction in carcass weight, which may suggest that increased stress negatively affects the body condition of game animals. To sum up, stalking hunts cause stress in red deer, which is reflected in changes in the plasmatic level of cortisol and some biochemical blood parameters. An additional important aspect of this research is to draw attention to the need to improve hunting methods in order to minimize stress in game animals as much as possible. As a reactive species, the red deer is sensitive to both negative exogenous and endogenous stimuli. An intensive hunting period may have a particularly negative impact on game animals. The aim of this study was to determine the plasma cortisol level and biochemical parameters in 25 wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) harvested during stalking hunts in correlation with the sex and age of the animals. The mean cortisol concentrations in the stags and hinds analyzed in this study were similar (20.2 and 21.5 ng/mL, respectively). Higher HDL cholesterol values were found in the blood of the hinds than in stags (p < 0.05). Similarly, the mean levels of LDL cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase, and alanine aminotransferase were higher by 21%, 16%, and 42%, respectively, in the blood of the hinds. In contrast, the levels of alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and aspartate aminotransferase were higher in the stags (by 30%, 49%, and 36%, respectively). There was a negative correlation of the cortisol concentration with urea and bilirubin and a positive correlation between cortisol and aspartate aminotransferase in the stags (p < 0.05). In turn, a negative correlation was found between the cortisol and urea levels in the hinds (p < 0.05). In summary, the stress caused by stalking hunts and the characteristic behavior of red deer during the mating season had an impact on chosen biochemical parameters. The increased concentration of cortisol resulted in a decrease in the carcass mass, which may lead to the deterioration of the physical condition of animals on hunting grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to analyse the spatial structure of moose (Alces alces) in central-eastern Poland, taking into account sex structure and preferences regarding the composition of social groups. The density of animals in forest and swamp areas was analysed. Moose were shown to strongly prefer forest areas. Females moving with fawns and single females and males were most often observed. Statistical analysis confirmed that the biotope preference of this species does not depend on the type of social group in which the animals migrate. In the territory of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Lublin, the moose density per 1000 ha of forest and swamp averaged 5.9 individuals. Reproductive success and the number of young born were typical of the species. In 73% of cases, they moved in three dominant types of social groups, i.e. a hind with fawns, solitary stags and solitary hinds. The animals were found mainly in forest areas (65.1%). It should be remembered that in European forests it is very rarely possible to maintain Cervidae populations at a level that guarantees the absence of foraging effects on forest regeneration and the maintenance of its sustainability. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the species' population size is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of supplementation of feed rations with increased calcium and phosphorus doses on the haematological parameters and plasma zinc (Zn), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe) content as well as the body weight and the growth and development of the first antler in farmed fallow deer (Dama dama Linnaeus, 1758). The mean level of erythrocytes (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB), and haematocrit (HCT) was increased in the Ca- and P-supplemented group after the treatment period. The change was statistically significant (p < 0.05) in the case of RBC and HCT. The other haematological parameters (mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and platelet count (PLT)) were reduced. An increase in the Zn content was observed in the plasma of slaughtered animals. The concentration of other minerals (P, Mg, and Cu only in group II receiving a higher level of Ca and P in the feeding dose; Ca and Fe only in group I supplemented with a lower content of Ca and P in a nutritional dose) in blood plasma decreased slightly after the supplementation period and declined further after the slaughter. Noteworthy, there was a significant increase in the plasma Cu and Fe levels in group I in group II, respectively, in the post-supplementation period. No significant differences were observed in the body weight between the groups, but there was a beneficial effect of the higher Ca and P dose in the feed ration for the farmed fallow deer on the length of the first antler (p < 0.05). The antlers of animals in group II were on average 2.3 cm longer than in group I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Populations of game are not confined to single ecosystems but function within higher-order units, e.g. ecological landscape. The basis for the establishment of the hunting complexes was the assumption that the existing game hunting grounds, i.e. the basic units implementing game management, are too small and do not cover the natural areas inhabited by game populations. Roe deer are flexible species and easily adapt to various site conditions, so they inhabit many different habitats, from large forest complexes, through small in-field tree stands and shrubs, to treeless grounds and field monocultures. The aim of the study was to determine a possible impact of environmental conditions prevailing in the hunting complexes of the Regional Directorate of State Forests (RDLP in Lublin) on the ontogenetic quality of roe deer. The study was conducted on 518 European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) aged from 4 to 7 years (379 bucks and 139 does) harvested within hunting seasons 2010/2011-2013/2014. The results have shown that animals originating from areas with greater forest cover and denser stands are characterised by lower values of the mean ontogenetic quality parameters (carcase weight, kidney fat index, chest girth, weight of antlers) in comparison with animals from typical agricultural areas with fragmented forest complexes. These results indicate that, even in the case of such a eurytopic species as the roe deer, the ontogenetic quality differs between individual hunting complexes. The study has proved that strategies for hunting management of the roe deer should take into account the impact of the landscape structure, which provides a rationale behind creation of hunting complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]