Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria

The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis that the quality of male red deer hunted in the Opolskie region depends on selected characteristics of the place of their earlier habitat (forest cover) and the age of the individual. Weight of both carcass and antlers was adopted as a criterion. Material consisted of carcasses and antlers of 2018 red deer harvested in 119 hunting districts in the Opolskie region in 2011/12−2013/14. As a result it was found that the individual quality of male red deer was differentiated. Forest cover and age of individuals (Fig. 3) had significant impact on it.

Red deer hunted in the field-type hunting districts were significantly heavier than red deer hunted in the forest-type hunting districts (more than 40% forest cover). The average carcass weight in the field-type hunt- ing districts amounted to 113.5 kg and was nearly 6 kg higher than in individuals hunted in the forest-type hunting districts (107.7 kg). Between the mean values obtained for the body weight of male red deer hunted in the field-type and forest-type hunting districts showed a statistically significant difference in the first five age classes, ie. from 2 to 10 years of age. The body weight of the oldest “field” and “forest” individuals was similar.

In each class of age the weight of antlers of red deer hunted in the forest-type circuits were lower than re- sults from the field-type circuits (Fig. 3). The biggest differences were reflected in individuals 8–10 year and reached 0.35 kg. Weight of antlers of red deer hunted in both circuits were growing to the last age class. The culmination of this feature occurred in individuals 11 years and older. As a result of Student’s t test was statis- tically significant (p < 0.05) in the four age classes (2–5) in individuals from 3 to 10 years old. In individuals 2 and 11-year-old and older antler mass was not significantly differentiating feature (Table 1).