• Find your local Police
  • Crimestoppers

  • Home
  • About
    • Structure of the Unit
    • Publications
    • PAW UK
    • MOU ~ NPCC, Natural England, NRW and CPS
    • Wildlife crime guidance for enforcers
    • MISSION STATEMENT
    • NWCU Strategy
    • NPCC Wildlife Crime and Rural Affairs Strategies
    • Freedom of Information (FOI) requests
    • Privacy Statement & Cookies
  • What is wildlife crime
  • Priorities
    • How do we prioritise?
    • Current UK priorities
      • Badger Persecution
      • Bat Persecution
      • Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
      • Cyber Enabled Wildlife Crime
      • Freshwater Pearl Mussels
      • Poaching (Deer and Fish) and Hare Coursing
      • Raptor Persecution
    • Other area’s of wildlife crime
    • Priority Delivery Groups
    • Seasonal Considerations
  • Forensic Analysis Fund
  • Press Coverage
    • Press Releases
    • Wildlife Crime Press Coverage
  • Education
    • Training
    • National Wildlife Crime Enforcer’s Conference
    • Laurie Campbell wildlife
    • Wildlife Crime Gallery
    • Events
    • Links
    • Blogs/Twitter
  • Contact

Breaking

New lead for National Wildlife Crime Unit

New Scottish wildlife crime investigator appointed for NWCU

Deer hunter in PSNI who had carcasses in cold-room at home fined £6k

Another satellite-tagged hen harrier has disappeared in the Yorkshire Dales

PAW Northern Ireland launches Badger Persecution Report 2016-2018

Police Scotland launch second phase of year-long wildlife crime campaign focusing on Badger Persecution

Police Scotland appeal for information - poisoned bird of prey - Ruthven, Moy

Caerphilly man found guilty for offences against red kites and a badger

Telford raids sees hundreds of exotic animals rescued

London building company handed largest ever fine in relation to a wildlife crime

Badger Trust launches 'stop badger crime' video starring Mike Dilger

Protected River Lugg in Herefordshire was 'bulldozed' in 'wildlife crime'

Angler found guilty of fishing without permission on Norfolk Broad

Man who illegally sold jewellery containing elephant hair sentenced

NWCU intelligence sharing results in Swedish prison sentence for CITES crimes

North Yorkshire Police appeal for information after red kite poisoned in Ryedale

Motherwell man sentenced for badger baiting

Badger baiting: North Wales Farm worker Damien Sweeney jailed

South Yorkshire Police execute warrant in connection to poisoned Peregrine Falcon

Derbyshire Police charge male for theft of Peregrine Falcon eggs


Home / Animal of the Month / Red Deer

Red Deer


October is the month of roaring in the hills, those roaring being red deer stags at the rut.  Red deer are the largest deer species in the UK, with only the males- stags – growing antlers. The antlers often prove their worth at this time of year when the stags are battling over a harem of hinds, though it is sometimes the weight of the stag that is the deciding factor rather than the number of points on a set of antlers. Strangely this allows the more unusual red deer stags, called hummels, that do not grow antlers, to use their energy putting on weight rather than growing antlers. Even though they are bigger and heavier their lack of antlers puts them at a disadvantage in these jousts over females.reddeer167b

 
A stag with 12 points to its antlers is called a Royal.  Because in Scotland red deer live for most or all of their life on the hill, eating poorer quality food, only a small proportion ever grow more than 12 points.  Deer living on much better quality grass such as those in deer parks and even those in places in the south of the UK, often grow much larger antlers.

 
In the mating season – the rut – in late September and October, the stags lose condition fast and only remain in control of a ‘parcel’ of hinds for a relatively short time before they are ousted by a fresher and stronger stag. Occasionally these battles are fatal, with some stags being gored in a place that eventually results in death. Very occasionally during a battle their antlers become jammed and one or both stags may die if there is not human intervention.
Red deer have a hard time during a bad winter and if the winter is prolonged there may be insufficient food for all to survive. With no predators on adult red deer the only option for those weakened animals is death through starvation, usually at the very end of the winter.

 
Red deer calves are born in June, normally a single spotted calf. The calves lie absolutely still and blend with their surroundings, which is usually a good strategy when danger threatens, though it is not long before they are up and running with the mother.

 
reddeer65bRed deer are regular victims of crime, generally through poaching for profit. This is a major problem in many parts of Scotland, the north of England, south-west of England and in parts of Wales. Shooting from the roadside with a rifle is the main method used by poachers. Sometimes a shotgun is used though this is as likely to injure a deer rather than kill it. More unusual methods are shooting with a crossbow or even snaring.  The police are always keen to hear of outlets for poached venison.


  • NWCU & Police Press Releases

    • Three Kent men jailed for hunting and killing badgers,...
      September 28, 2020
    • Rural police operation to make North Yorkshire a no-go...
      August 21, 2020
    • Appeal for information after analysis reveals buzzard...
      July 24, 2020
    • North Yorkshire Buzzard killed by combination of four...
      May 27, 2020
    • Man charged with Raptor Persecution crimes in Stewartry
      April 9, 2020
  • Wildlife Crime Press Coverage

    • New lead for National Wildlife Crime Unit
      January 18, 2021
    • New Scottish wildlife crime investigator appointed...
      January 15, 2021
    • Deer hunter in PSNI who had carcasses in cold-room...
      January 15, 2021
    • Another satellite-tagged hen harrier has disappeared...
      January 13, 2021
    • PAW Northern Ireland launches Badger Persecution Report...
      December 20, 2020


  • ABOUT THE NWCU

    • About
    • Current UK priorities
    • Structure of the Unit
    • Recruitment
    • S22a agreement
  • MEDIA

    • Publications
    • Press Releases
    • UK Wildlife Gallery
    • Media Enquiries
  • LINKS

    • Twitter
    • Crimestoppers
    • PAW
    • Find your local Police
    • Wildlife Crime Links
    • what3words
  • EXTRAS

    • Privacy Statement & Cookies
    • Press Releases RSS Feed
    • Wildlife Press Coverage RSS Feed

This site uses cookies to store information on your computer. These are required to enhance the website and for Google Analytics.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Necessary Always Enabled