The European subspecies has all four of these variations, while the Mesopotamian fallow seems to have only the common and Menil coloring. European fallow deer have been distributed throughout the world, while Mesopotamian are dangerously near extinction. Because no freeranging members of this species are known today, world-wide efforts to protect them and increase their numbers have been launched. However, European fallow distribution is relatively even throughout the world. From Europe to eastern Europe, Africa and Australia to North and South America, European fallow deer have proved to be very adaptable creatures.
Fallow deer follow the patterns of their Cervid counterparts in reproduction states.
Deer have seasonal synchronization of birth, body growth, activity cycles and growth stasis to correspond to feed quantity, quality and availability. For example, maximum nutritional demands for females occurs during lactation. The summer is the time of fawning and lactation, and the time of maximum weight gain for the yearlings. For the mature bucks, it is the time for antler growth and regaining body condition and fat reserves which were depleted during the previous autumn rut and winter. The social structure of the fallow deer is based on the herd.