The red deer, also known as the "king of the forests", is a very large and impressive stag. Its large antlers, which only the males wear, are particularly striking. They use them to fight for their territory and the females. The antlers can become very heavy - up to 25 kilograms!
In summer, the red deer's coat is reddish-brown, in winter it turns gray-brown. Under its tail it has a white or yellowish patch called a "mirror".
Red deer live in forests and prefer large, undisturbed areas. They are found in many parts of the world, such as Europe, North America and even Australia and New Zealand. In the wild, they are very cautious and avoid humans.
In the fall, when it is mating season, males call loudly to attract females and defend their territory. The females live in groups led by an older doe. The males often live alone.
Red deer only eat plants: Grasses, leaves, fruits and also tree bark. However, in areas where there are too many deer, they can also damage trees.
A red deer can live up to 20 years and becomes an adult at around two years of age. The young are born with a spotted pattern and follow their mother after a short time.
The antlers of deer grow anew every year and are made of bone. In spring, the stag begins to develop new antlers, which are initially covered with a soft, hairy skin, the so-called "velvet". This layer protects the antlers as they grow. The velvet contains blood vessels that supply the antlers with nutrients.
In summer, the antlers grow rapidly and can reach a considerable size by fall. In the fall, when the antlers are fully hardened, the velvet is shed and falls off. From this point on, the antlers consist only of solid bone. During the rutting season in the fall, the antlers are put on display and the stags often fight with each other for the attention of females.
After the rut, in winter, the antlers begin to weaken again and eventually fall off, usually in January or February. The cycle then begins again and new antlers grow in the spring.
Stags usually grow until they are about 5 to 7 years old, but the antlers reach their largest size and shape at about 7 to 10 years of age. After that, the antlers may become slightly smaller and less powerful with age.
What ammunition is used to hunt a stag?
Ammunition with larger calibers and the appropriate bullet type is generally used for deer hunting to ensure that the shot is effective and does not harm the animal. The most common calibers for deer hunting are:
- .308 Winchester: A popular caliber for deer hunting in Europe, suitable for medium distances.
- .30-06 Springfield: Also widely used, it offers good range and penetration.
- 7x64mm: Very common in Europe, especially for deer hunting.
- .300 Winchester Magnum: Often used for larger deer and at longer ranges.
- 8x57 IS (8mm Mauser): Another common caliber, especially in Europe.
- .243 Winchester: Used in some cases for smaller deer species, especially females or younger deer.
Not only the caliber is important, but also the bullet. For hunting larger animals such as red deer, hunting bullets with expanding properties should be used, such as oryx bullets or copper bullets, which expand in the body of the animal and thus ensure that the deer is killed quickly and humanely.
The choice of caliber and bullet depends on various factors, including hunting conditions, distances and the size of the deer.