The great Red Deer Stag epitomises our perceptions of the Highlands of Scotland. These fantastic and majestic creatures are abundant in Scotland and the rest of Europe but there are now growing numbers in England and Ireland, especially in the Northern areas of England. In the Lake District there are several herds which scatter the hills and mountains. These creatures have been forced onto the open mountains rather than their preferred deciduous and mixed woodland because of the greater number of people populating the lowlands. This has resulted in a weaker population due to a lack of food. The result is that with a harsh winter the population can reduce drastically. A similar problem is seen in the Highlands. However there is a more pressing problem in the Highlands as the Red Deer need to be culled due to their numbers. However the culling tends to only include Stags because of their prised antlers. Therefore the population continues to grow and becomes weaker as the land cannot sustain such a large number. Therefore poor winter and disease could easily wipe a large number of the population out leaving only a few weak members left. To overcome this, farmers and land owners need to make sure that hinds are killed as well as the Stags. One of the main reasons for such a population explosion was the withdrawal of the Red Deer’s only natural predator the wolf.

Red Deer are about 1.5 – 2.5m tall and weigh between 100-340kg. The Stage (male) is larger and heavier than the hind (female). The adult male have antlers that are shed and re-grown each season and although popular myth suggests that the number of tips on the antler represent the Stag’s age, this myth is not true. Red Deer are mainly active at dawn, dusk and night and tend to eat grass, herbs, leaves, bark and fruit. Generally the hinds live together with the young, while the Stags roam in a smaller group or individually outside the breeding season. The breeding season takes place between September and October and although books suggest that there is a lot of fighting (rutting - where two stags fight with their antlers) disputed tend to be settled through roaring or bellowing. During the velvet – Stags antlers are very sensitive whilst shedding their own pair and hence the Stags tend to solve disputes by boxing with their feet like hares rather than jostle with their sensitive antlers.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY NOTE:

 

The best way to photograph Red Deer is from a car. By doing this you are able to get reasonably close to the subject without it becoming alarmed. However there are certain situations where using a car is not possible to get close to the subject. In this case it is necessary to stalk the animal. However when you do this always remember to put the subjects welfare first. You will know when you approached to close as the subject will run away. Try to avoid disturbing them in this way but if it does occur, take account of your distance and don’t approach as close to a different subject again. If the deer does run away do not pursue it but leave it in peace.

The best way to stalk a deer is to go at angles to the deer, walking very slowly and approaching down wind. Take your time and you will be rewarded. It has taken me up to an hour and a half to close the distance between a deer and myself so that I am able to photograph it, but if I had charged up to it there wouldn’t be any chance of capturing the deer on photograph and I would have disturbed it. For deer that are easier to stalk as they are used to humans try deer parks.