Red deer

Red deer

The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is a large antlered species of deer with an average trophy head of 12 points. They were introduced from Europe in the 1850's and have spread throughout New Zealand. Their roar or rut starts in late March and ends late April. This is a prime time to hunt stags as they are vocal, roaring out challenges to other stags in the area. Fawning is from December to February.

Physical size and morphology

The red deer is a medium sized, round-antlered deer with a short tail and adult antlers with 10 or more tines. The head of red deer is longer and more bony in appearance than sika deer. Their ears are pointed and can be longer than half the length of their head. Red deer tails are short (12-15 cm) and match the colour of their upper rump.

The frontal and parietofrontal skull sutures (bone joint lines) are a diagnostic feature. They lie between the antler pedicles in stags and in the corresponding position in hinds. In red deer the sutures form a "Y".

Red deer have a metatarsal gland on the outer edge of the rear legs (just below the "knee joint"), but it is smaller and less conspicuous than on sika deer. It is typically the same colour as the normal body hair and is not surrounded by the tuft of longer hairs.

Coat colour

The summer coat of red deer is typically a reddish brown. White spots are extremely rare and limited to the area around the spine. Although red deer sometimes have a dorsal stripe, it is usually restricted to the neck and hip regions, and is rarely continuous.

The winter coat of red deer is usually of a brown or grey-brown with the throat and underside being light grey grading to creamy-white between the hind legs.

Although red deer also have a cream rump patch, no margin is present and it cannot be flared as in sika.

Antlers

Antlers are grown and cast annually by males from their second year. A typical mature red stag can have ≥12 points. The antler beams of red stags are larger and wider than those of sika stags. In cross-section the bone component of the antler is thinner in red deer than for sika deer, and there is a comparatively larger porous core.

In red deer the brow tines usually branch closer to the coronet and are at right angles to the main antler beam. Red deer also have bez tines.

Velvet antler growth starts between early September and December and is complete when the dried velvet is frayed from the hard antler between mid January and mid March.

Vocalisations

Red stags are normally silent except during the roar when they have a low rumbling, gutteral bellow usually terminated with several grunts. Both sexes give a gruff bark when they sense danger and hinds use a bleating call to maintain contact with their calves.

Behaviour

During the roar, red stags will roar periodically, especially in the early morning and evening. Red deer make use of wallows, both during the roar and at other times of the year. The covering of mud accentuates the smell of a rutting stag and can give the deer a larger, darker appearance.

back to top