Fallow Deer

Often mistaken for sika deer, Britain's contemporary population of fallow deer were brought to these islands following the Norman conquest as ornamental deer, but they soon became a favourite for hunting and aristocratic tables. Today, they are increasingly regarded as a menace due to their rising numbers and for the damage to crops and trees they can cause. Fallow deer are central to European traditions of preparing venison, well matched to cooking with robust wines and juniper berries.