Red Deer
Cervus elaphus
The first Red Deer was released into New Zealand around 1851 with many more liberations throughout the country over the next few years.
The Red Deer is the most common deer in New Zealand and has spread due to the favourable climate and lack of preditors.
They were originally brought in to create game farms but after gaining a foot hold they soon spread far and wide, until in 1931 the government had to take control of the over population by means of culling.
It was at this stage that deer in New Zealand were classed as noxious pests and thus the deer culler came to be, drastically reducing the Red Deer population to a sustianable population.
Today many Red Deer can be found on farm where there velvet and meat is a big export market to Japan and Germany.
There habitat ranges from the tussock mountain tops to the bush clad river valley's.
The Red Deer mate April - May this is called the Roar
and is the most popular time to hunt.
A Red Stag can weigh up to 300 lb and measure up to
50 inches at shoulder height.
A red Stag's antlers can grow up to 50 inches in length
And are a fearsome weapon in anyone's books.
The female or Hind is alot smaller in size and stature
Red Deer live in groups with one Hind being the leader, they will raise the young of both sex's and she will keep a constant look out over the group.
The Red Stags will live in loose groupsuntil the roar then the fighting for the Hinds will take place.
Above is a family group including a Stag, Hind , Yearlying Hind and a fawn, these deer live on a farm and are on show as a tourist attraction.
Below Curious1 displays just how big the above Stag's antlers are....
these were the cast antlers from the previous season.
The diagram above shows the names of the different point on a Red Stag's
antler's
The picture to the left is a fine example
of another fine Red Stag head.
To see other great Post Cards of New Zealand please click on this picture which they have kindly supplied