Thanks folks -

Had a very successful 3 days in Scotland taking 2 Roe with a .243 and 3 Sika with a 30.06
I have some pic of one of the Sika - not great ones but I might post them later in the week.

We have six Species of deer in the UK - in order of size they are as follows:

Red - native to the UK and our largest mammal- largest number in Scotland (circa 350,000) but present in several other areas of the UK. Typically between 90-140kg but with exceptional feeding up to 190kg+

Fallow - Reintroduced by the Normans in the 11th century so not strictly native. 40-95kg typically - the one in the photo was at the upper end of this.

Sika - Two sub species the Japanese & Manchurian both escapees from deer parks and now well established in many parts of the UK. Typically 40-60kg. Very hard to shoot as they are very nocturnal animal and have little or no routine to their movements.

Roe - native through the UK. Typical weights between 18-27kg. The best eating deer in the UK IMO

Muntjac - Introduced from China by the Duke of Bedford to his deer park but have since escaped and found Britain very much to its likeing and is spreading very fast. A large one might make 15kg.

Chinese Water deer - Escapee and present in only a small area of the UK. Again a very large one might make 15kg.

Troy - most of the ground is like the above picture - acid heather moorland. The Roe tend to live out on the open hillside as they are a small deer and can easily conceal themselves amongst the bracken and heather which makes them very tricky to spot - particularly in their winter coats. The Sika live in the large blocks of coniferous forestry, one of which can be seen as a thin dark line along the ridge of the hill is the near distance. They are very nocturnal and only venture onto the open hill to feed in the dark, however, they can be intercepted in the very early morning and the late evening on the way to/ from their feeding grounds with shot typically being taken in very poor light. They are also very 'nervy' and have little or no routine which added to the fact that they are very hard deer indeed (they can take alot of punishment and require a well placed bullet) they are a tricky customer all round.

The photo bellow is looking down into the lowland valley floor which is dotted with small woods - these have a small population of roe deer which are hard to get a shot at in the thick cover.

Here is one of the Sika taken in Scotland last weekend - not looking his best i'm afraid after bouncing around on the back of a quad whilst getting out of some pretty rough ground.

A three year old or so i would say. Taken with just enough light in the scope to be able to shoot on the edge of a forestry block.
147 yards with a 30.06