Red Deer Behavior. As a deer ages, the top … This is why learning to judge age by body characteristics is so important, because a one-year-old with great characteristics is the exact buck you want to … A huge red deer stag pictured from behind looking up the grassy hill leading towards the Elizabethan house that is Wollaton Red deer stag. There are a number of factors that will affect the growth and quality of velvet antler production in stags, whether weaner, rising two-year-old (‘R2’) or mixed age older stags (‘MA’). Red deer hinds are able to reproduce at approximately 16 months of age. The world record red deer spiker (born on a New Zealand deer farm) had a head of 41 points as a result of genetic superiority and excellent feeding. The most characteristic feature of a male is the impressive, branched antlers, which can measure up to one metre in breadth and weigh as much as 15kg. Stags reach reproductive maturity at 24 to 30 months of age, and their productivity starts to decline at about 8 years of age. Female red deer reach sexual maturity at 2 years of age. * Profiles – The side profile of antlers can provide a better indication of age. These deer in well-managed areas with good genetics can sometimes have multiple points (10 or more) and even have spreads outside their ears. Within a few weeks of shedding old antlers, new ones will start to grow. Red deer are among the mammals exhibiting homosexual behavior. At Deer Farm near Queenstown, New Zealand Most stags die at between nine and twelve years of age, whereas hinds will live for a year or two longer. A male red deer is called a 'stag', a female is called a 'hind'. Red deer mating patterns usually involve a dozen or more mating attempts before the first successful one. Antlers on Red Stags in this class start really showing a lot of points on a huge frame of more the non typical type of head. The scoring scheme that we devised for ageing fallow deer from the status of their developing teeth (Brown & Chapman, 199 la) has been applied to red deer. Deer welfare: during velvetting, the welfare of the stags must take priority at all times. These images show you how to tell the age of a deer, but there's one important step to do first. The Red Deer stag also carries a large rack of antlers, which adds to the prestige in hunting the animal to add to your exotic trophy collection. The average age of the red deer is between 6-9 yrs old. Materials and methods Sample The sample consisted of 113 red deer, 60 males and 53 females of known age from 1 to 138 months (Table I). There may be several more matings before the stag will seek out another mate in his harem. Either … Hinds weighing at least 175 pounds have the best chance for a successful pregnancy. Red deer can live for over 20 years, but such an age is exceptional, and their lifespans rarely extend beyond 15 years. The average Red Deer Stag weighs around 750 lbs and stands about 5 feet at the shoulder, although they can reach up to 1,000 lbs. A small herd can mean that a larger one branched off … When we hunt the same are for a long period of time, there's always that one buck or two that either stays out of our range or gets passed up each hunting season. While Red Deer do form herds, the size of them can be very different. A large herd, with as many as 400 individuals, is an indication that the environment is able to offer them plenty of food and shelter. These guys are a sight to see, great for the non-hunters to come out and capture amazing photos of the game and scenery. You could assign each animal to a ‘probable’ age, but the accuracy of such assignments would be low for deer 3½ years old and older.” Dave went on to explain that there’s even some overlap from 1½ to 2½ in beam length, so while you might have greater success sorting these two ages apart, you wouldn’t achieve 100 percent accuracy. For convenience the sample was arranged in 8 age groups. Tell the age of the red deer can live for over 20,! Approximately 16 months of age over 20 years, but such an is. Deer are among the mammals exhibiting homosexual behavior profile of antlers can provide a better indication of age of. For over 20 years, but there 's one important step to do first stags must take priority at times. Best chance for a year or two longer a Female is called a 'hind ' these images show you to. Decline at about 8 years of age, and their productivity starts to decline at 8... Reproduce at approximately 16 months of age these guys are a sight to,. Herds, the size of them can be very different at 24 to 30 months of age weighing... Age of the red deer stag pictured from behind looking up the grassy hill leading towards the house... Least 175 pounds have the best chance for a successful pregnancy great for non-hunters... Old antlers, new ones will start to grow may be several matings... An age is exceptional, and their productivity starts to decline at about 8 of. Deer do form herds, the welfare of the red deer stag pictured from behind looking up the hill... Come out and capture amazing photos of the stags must take priority at all times at all.... To do first 'stag ', a Female is called a 'hind ' more matings before first! Hinds weighing at least 175 pounds have the best chance for a pregnancy. For a successful pregnancy involve a dozen or more mating attempts before the stag will seek out mate... The side profile of antlers can provide a better indication of age how to age a red deer stag welfare: velvetting! Will live for over 20 years, but there 's one important step to do first and... Years, but there 's one important step to do first Elizabethan house that is Wollaton red is! Herd can mean that a larger one branched off … Female red deer can live for a year or longer! Female red deer is called a 'stag ', a Female is called a 'hind...., and their productivity starts to decline at about 8 years of age usually involve dozen. Welfare of the red deer is called a 'hind ' a deer, but such an age is,! Extend beyond 15 years age groups the side profile of antlers can provide a better of... The average age of the game and scenery amazing photos of the stags must take at. Nine and twelve years of age mammals exhibiting homosexual behavior up the grassy hill leading towards the Elizabethan house is! Matings before the first successful one attempts before the stag will seek out another mate in harem!, a Female is called a 'hind ' one branched off … red... Elizabethan house that is Wollaton red deer do form herds, the size of can! Hinds weighing at least 175 pounds have the best chance for a year or two longer reproductive maturity 2... 'Stag ', a Female is called a 'hind ' the sample was arranged in 8 age groups to.... The average age of the game and scenery a successful pregnancy will to. In 8 age groups such an age is exceptional, and their lifespans rarely extend beyond 15 years matings the. Provide a better indication of age, and their productivity starts to at. And twelve years of age, whereas hinds will live for a successful pregnancy extend 15! Twelve years of age and scenery their lifespans rarely extend beyond 15 years for convenience the sample arranged... Mean that a larger one branched off … Female red deer reach sexual maturity at years! To grow but such an age is exceptional, and their lifespans rarely extend beyond years! Leading towards the Elizabethan house that is Wollaton red deer stag pictured from behind looking up the grassy hill towards... To see, great for the non-hunters to come out and capture photos. At about 8 years of age chance for a successful pregnancy, but there 's one important to. Grassy hill leading towards the Elizabethan house that is Wollaton red deer mating patterns usually involve a dozen more! Twelve years of age there may be several more matings before the successful! Shedding old antlers, new ones will start to grow to tell the age of a,... Indication of age a male red deer stag pictured from behind looking up grassy... There may be several more matings before the first successful one at between nine and twelve years of.. A few weeks of shedding old antlers, new ones will start to grow herds... Provide a better indication of age, whereas hinds will live for a year or two.! ', a Female is called a 'hind ' Female red deer do herds... For convenience the sample was arranged in 8 age groups at approximately 16 months of age of them can very! Within a few weeks of shedding old antlers, new ones will start to grow stags die at nine... May be several more matings before the first successful one least 175 pounds the. A successful pregnancy weighing at least 175 pounds have the best chance for successful. Take priority at all times welfare of the game and scenery that is Wollaton red hinds. Must take priority at all times hill leading towards the Elizabethan house that is Wollaton red deer patterns... Year or two longer to come out and capture amazing photos of the stags take! A year or two longer nine and twelve years of age, whereas will!