Red stag

The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the largest deer species in the world and inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, Iran, parts of Asia and the Atlas Mountains region in northwestern Africa, being the only species of deer to inhabit Africa. Red deer have been introduced to other areas, including the United States, where they are found mainly in captivity.

The red deer at Antioch Ranch were bought from a Minnesota farmer. The stag (male) was a prime breeder and cost $30,000! But Tony and Francis didn’t buy him to breed, they bought him so he can live in peace and never have to worry about being shot.

This deer weighs close to 500 pounds, and when he shed his antlers last month, it took Tony two days to find the huge horns on his property. He roams the same fields with the addax, wildebeest, zebras, and other deer.

FUN FACTS:

• The male (stag) red deer is 69 to 98 in long and weighs 350 to 530 lbs.

• The female (hind) is 63 to 83 in long and weighs 260 to 370 lbs.

• The red deer is the fourth-largest deer species behind moose, elk, and sambar deer.

• It is a ruminant, eating its food in two stages, and has an even number of toes on each hoof, like camels, goats, and cattle.

• Only stags have antlers, which start growing in the spring and are shed each year, usually at the end of winter. They measure 28 to 45 inches in total length and weigh 2 to 11 lbs.

• Red deer live over 20 years in captivity and in the wild they live 10 to 13 years.