ON THE EFFECT OF VARIOUS FACTORS ON THE T ROPHY WEIGHT OF FALLOW DEERSPIKER

From 1982 to 1989 the antler parameters beam length and diameter and p edicle diameter, and the factor of game weight were analyzed for their relationship to trophy weight for 388 fallow deer spiker from the are as of lodge of three hunting associations. Malchin, Neukalen, and Base dow. The average trophy weight was between 201 and 250 grams. The fall ow deer occurrences were evaluated as phenotypically uniform (Tables 2 and 3). On average the trophy weight increases by 8.8 g for each cm i ncrease in beam length. Differences among the 3 areas of lodge are exp lained by differences in selective shooting (Table 4). No concrete sta tement can be made for the relationship between pedicle diameter and t rophy weight (Table 5). A significant relationship between beam diamet er and trophy weight for all 3 areas of lodge was demonstrated (Tables 6 and 7, Figs. 2 a-c). The change in trophy mass amounts to 10.6 g/mm and 21.6 g/mm beam diameter. The effect of the method of measurement is emphasized. The relationship between game weight and trophy weight is significant for two of the three fallow deer areas of lodge (Table 9). During the span of 9 years following the implementation of the Man agement Guidelines of 01.01.1982 in the district of Neubrandenburg the numbers oi top quality trophies bagged increased 2.8 fold in comparis on to the preceding 12 years from 1970 to 1981.