The red deer is the biggest deer species found in the United Kingdom. Male red deer grow impressive antlers with multiple branches, and these antlers become larger and more elaborate as the animals age.

During the autumn breeding period, known as the “rut,” males make powerful roaring calls to establish and defend their territories. They compete with other males for access to females, sometimes clashing with their sharp antlers and causing injuries. After mating, females usually give birth to a single calf the following spring.

Red deer can be found in a variety of open landscapes, including moorlands, mountain slopes, and grassy areas close to woodland. They are also commonly seen in managed deer parks across the country. Their diet mainly consists of grasses, sedges, rushes, and low-growing plants such as heather.

How to identify

Red deer have a distinctive dark reddish-brown coat, along with a lighter-colored rump patch and pale tail. They are easy to recognize when seen in groups because of their large, powerful bodies and, in males, their impressive branching antlers.

Distribution

Red deer are widespread in Scotland, especially throughout the Highlands and surrounding islands. They can also be found in several areas of England, including the Lake District, Exmoor, the New Forest, and Thetford Forest.

Did you know?

A male red deer is known as a stag, while a female is called a hind. The stag’s most noticeable feature is its large, branching antlers, which can grow up to one meter across and weigh as much as 15 kilograms.

After older antlers are shed, new ones begin developing within just a few weeks. During this growth period, the new antlers are covered in a soft protective layer called velvet. This velvet contains many blood vessels that deliver nutrients and help the antlers grow.

Producing antlers requires a great deal of energy, and stags often lose body weight while their new antlers are developing. Once growth is complete, the velvet is removed, revealing the strong, hardened antlers used during the breeding season.