The Red Deer

The red deer is Ireland’s largest wild mammal and is found in isolated pockets throughout the island.  They are not seen in numbers during the summer months but come down from the higher moorlands to lower feeding pastures during the autumn and winter. The male red deer or stag’s coat is a rich red colour, darkening down to a greyish brown in winter.   His crowning glory are his antlers.  A red stag with twelve tangs to its antlers is a prized trophy in stalking circles and referred to as a “Royal Stag.”

Stalking in Ireland is permissible but due to the relatively small numbers of deer and the restrictive firearms legislation, the numbers of people involved with the sport here are limited.