Deer drone survey 2026 results

13 May 2026

Since 2021 we have been using drones to monitor deer in the High Weald, focussing on Ashdown Forest and Bayham, where populations are particularly high.  Because deer are transient, often covering large distances, deer management is only effective if undertaken on a landscape scale, which is why we manage these surveys on behalf of over 80 landowners.

The survey findings allow landowners and deer managers to calculate what levels of management are needed.

The 2026 drone survey was carried out in February. It showed that:

  • Within the 185 km2 area surveyed, 5099 fallow deer were counted.
  • Fallow deer numbers showed only a small increase since last year, up 1.9% in Ashdown and 0.18% in Bayham. To achieve this, we estimate that around 2000 deer have been culled since August 2025.
  • For fallow deer, the sex ratios of females to males remains at approx. 80% v 20% in favour of the females (does).
  • The density of deer (deer per square km) varies across the zones from 16 to 50 deer per km2.  For conservation purposes, and to support the regeneration of woodlands, 7 deer per km2 is recognised as a sustainable number, so there is still a lot of work to do.
  • There is a wide difference in changing deer numbers across different zones, with reductions of 23% in two zones and increases of up to 25% in others. The zones showing the reductions have robust deer management groups operating with regular deer move days and good collaboration amongst deer managers and landowners.
  • Encouragingly, numbers of roe deer seem to have increased significantly across both Ashdown (up 47%) and Bayham (up 67%). Fallow deer can crowd out roes, which are native to the High Weald, so their increase is a positive sign. Watch this space!

Above all, the survey findings demonstrate why deer management is so important: without it, deer populations can increase by around 30% each year.

To find out more or request a copy of the survey contact Mark Smith, our Deer Management Coordinator – mark.smithcet@highweald.org

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