Red deer on Arran

Red deer stag

There are 4 species of wild deer in Scotland but only one on Arran – the Red Deer. The red deer is easily recognisable and can be found on the open hills throughout the year and is often seen from the String Road.

Deer roaming through the glen 

Since the native wolf population disappeared there are no natural predators of deer, but numbers do not range out of control as Mother Nature naturally culls by providing harsh winters and limited food supplies.  In addition, there is an active Deer Management policy across Arran. Deer on Arran are counted every March, using helicopters to access more remote glens, and these numbers help to determine management policies

A Hind  

The stags weigh around 150 – 240 kg, and the hinds 110 – 170kg.  Stags are typically around 4 foot tall at the shoulder, but the neck, head and antlers make them appear much larger.

The velvet covering on new antlers

The antlers are shed each year at the end of winter.  New growth is covered with velvet, before this is shed to reveal the calcified horn below. October is the time of the mating season, known as the rut.  Bellows ring out through the glens and stags can be seen pacing parallel to each other as they assess their components size before either retreating or fighting to secure harems of hinds. If a fight does happen, serious injury can be inflicted by the antlers.  After the rut, at the start of winter coats become thicker and in stags a ‘mane’ can sometimes be seen.

Stags often collect branches and other debris on their antlers during the rut - it may be an attempt to make the antlers appear larger and therefore be a more formidable opponent. 

Brodick Castle has an amazing collection of 87 mounted stag heads adorning the walls of the main hall and staircase. These show off the antlers and just how lethal a weapon they can be.  A stag with 14 points is known as an Imperial, and one with 12 points a Royal.  Large numbers of points are only found in mature stags.

2 Stags in winter coats

Red deer, as wild animals, belong to no-one, however, the right to shoot an animal lies with the owner of the land and this is done through stalking, usually with a trained gamekeeper and only at certain times of the year.