Red deer (Cervus elaphus) is a widespread game species in Hungary. The intensive rate of population growth can result a strong degradation of the natural vegetation. In
the forested areas serious damage can occur when the main food sources of deer, the available browse species, are lacking or scarce. In the preserves the density of deer
can be quite high occasionally, ensuring hunting possibilities and venison production. Since the regeneration of the browse species is restricted by deer, the role of supplementary feeding (hay-silage, grain, special supplements etc.) could be particularly important. Knowledge of red deer diet is mainly based on data of free-ranging deer. However, information on food habits of fenced populations is also important for wildlife management purposes. So far, few specific studies have compared the diet composition of deer living in fenced and unfenced areas. We aimed to compare the diet composition of free living populations with fenced ones during the vegetation period to promote the wildlife management in such a special environment.
We collected faeces samples in a preserve and in the neighbouring similar unfenced habitat in spring, summer and autumn (n=20 for each area and period). Analyses were
made by microhistological identification of plant epidermis fragments found in the individual faeces. Browse species dominated the deer diet (40-82%) both in the fenced and unfenced areas throughout the vegetation period. Grasses and forbs did not exceed 10% in most cases. Deer consumed mainly oak and acorn, or oak and supplemental corn in the preserve while 4 to 6 species made up the great mass of the diet outside the fences. Only a few individuals consumed the supplementary forage items
other than corn in great amount, but most of deer did not eat any of the supplements.The summer diet was more diverse and even in the unfenced area, and more forage items were consumed than in the fenced area. We conclude that the preserves could be unfavourable for red deer. When the natural food resources are largely absent, deer could be forced to feed on litter, or supplementary feed should meet their requirements
