(4) Since the difference between counted and dead adult sex ratios for the first 6 years averaged 6.0 +- 1.3% in favour of stags, and culled stags (average age 6.4 +- 0.8 years) were older than culled hinds (average age 5.2 +- 0.4 years) every year, it was assumed that the errors remained constant, and all measurements of births, deaths and sex ratios were corrected accordingly before the effects of changes in management were assessed. Depending on previous growing conditions, calves also tended to be classified as hinds (13.0 +- 19.0%). (3) Totals, calculated for the first 4 years, differed from the counted by only 2.1 +- 1.6%, but errors in classification were greater 11.3 +- 2.6% of the stags were found to have been classified as hinds, whilst the latter had been over-estimated by 17.3 +- 8.6%. (2) Numbers were determined each year in late winter or early spring by means of classified counts, the validity of which was tested ultimately by reconstructing each standing population after ageing all the deer recovered dead. (1) Red deer population dynamics were studied on Rhum for 9 years, following the Nature Conservancy's acquisition of the island in 1957, to find a means of controlling deer numbers in relation to reserve management.
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