New Zealand Red Stags are on the move

New Zealand Red Stags are on the move. It’s March 2021 and the red Stag rut in the central South Island is in full swing. The Hinds (females) are starting to show up on our trail cameras which has seen increased activity up in the forestry as the temperatures start to cool down these sees animals starting to move more looking for new grasses and a partner, or two. The first roaring of our Red Stag in this area is typically in February as unlike many places around the country its alot cooler up in the trees the Stags tend to rub off their velvet earlier and wallow causing a shift in their hormones. Most of our deer are left with a natural breeding programme, we cull out stags that do not have trophy potential and make sure we have out minerals over the year to maintain good health. Excess females are lured out in winter down onto the farm where they become part of the the farming operation which makes sure we have a good balance in our hunting area as well as maintaining feed through the colder months.