Deer DNA

kerryman12

Guys

Very interesting article in this months Digest. It is about a study currently underway into irish deer species. IT is using DNA collected from hunters to compile information on the various species and use this information to profile out deer population

Cutting a long story short the main points are as follows;

1. Sika are still mainly a pure species in Wicklow and have not completly hybridised with Reds.
2. There are still some pure Reds left in Wicklow - small in number, which are different from other Red species in the country.
3. As we know there is a noticable differance between Wicklow and Kerry Sika, it is suggested that this is because they are in fact different subspecies.
4. No signs exist of Red/Sika hybridisation in Kerry to date.
5. Kerry red deer appear to be of unique origion in the country.
6. Kerry Sika deer show signs of a limited gene pool.
7. Two samples were found of Red/Sika hybridisation were found in Connamara.

This is only a interim report with more to follow.

Very interesting article worth a read.

Deerspotter

I'd be really interested in reading it. Where can I get my hands on it?

DR6.5

You can read it on the Irish deer society's website and it is in the current Irish shooters digest.

irishhunter

There you go! http://www.irishdeersociety.ie/

Deerspotter

That is very interesting. Thanks for the link.

jwshooter

a hybrid i shot in wicklow about 10 years ago

jwshooter

the sika on the left came off powers court estate 3 years age the red came from donegal and the sika on the left came form the wicklow gap note the way the hybrid fits into the middle of the lot.

Deerspotter

great photo's.