Look what dh found in the park!

fantastic and it is also beautiful that a amazing animal was not murdered in the find

I never knew that they ate their antlers either. Fascinating

I had no idea that deer ate their antlers; that probably explains why the one I found was chewed at the top. There are herds of managed deer at various NT properties near here, and one well known stately home, but to have a resident wild herd of reds is a jewel in the crown. No one knows where they came from originally but they have grown in numbers and their range seems to have extended, so you never know where you’re going to come across them.

grandtanteJE65

Witzend

The young males have tiny ones - they evident get bigger with each season. We’ve often noticed that we hardly ever see the really big stags until the autumn rutting season, when they’re very busy chasing off other stags from their ‘harem’, bellowing and often clashing antlers with rivals.

More than once we’ve seen a big stag with a lot of dead bracken festooned in his antlers - apparently it’s supposed to make them look bigger and more scary, but to us they look more like someone the morning after a really wild party!

Actually, it probably is a stag after a really wild party, when you think about it!

Yes, now I come to think of it, the one I remember best was clearly knackered, taking his ease as he sat in a nice cosy bed of dry bracken. And taking zero notice of humans walking past, though to be frank they are often so well camouflaged that you don’t see them until you’re up close.

Lovely posts & pics x

Wow! I didn't realise that deer shed their whole antlers

I found a small one in the garden just before Christmas. Gave it to gd to take to school. I was quite excited as I’ve never found one before. I would have been extra excited if I’d find a really big one like op’s dh.

Wow, lucky you. There are a few deer herds around where I live and I am always looking out for them but never been lucky enough!

Wow I found that interesting thanks for sharing

Lally74

My neighbour wants me to cut down the bullice (cherry plums) near our shared fence because the blossom gets blown on his car port roof. I admit the trees are not the most pretty . If I trim the trees , they will grow even bigger . I am not able to trim them myself.....too decrepit . Any ideas ?

Lally74
I think you may have posted on the wrong forum. Try reposting your question on the Gardening topic. I'm sure someone will be able to help.

The only things we have that’s deer related are the repulsive ticks that hitch a lift on the dog! ( Tick card an absolute necessity)

Male reindeer also lose their antlers post mating season, but females keep theirs throughout winter. So Santa’s sleigh is pulled by an all female team! Rudolfina anyone? ?

We have deer in the fields across from my house but seldom see them. During the first lockdown, they became accustomed to there being nobody around and no vehicles on the tiny lane that goes the length of one field. I was walking my dog one day and rounded a corner of the lane and came face to face with a deer. We all looked at each other for what felt like a small eternity (they are surprisingly large at close quarters) and then it was off, back through a hole in the hedgerow and over the fields. It was an utterly awe inspiring experience, looking directly into its beautiful eyes, and one I shall never forget.

Some fun remarks on this thread, a great relief since Gransnet can be pretty combative sometimes! Also all the photos were so good.

I have 4 deer living on my & my neighbour's land - one is so confident that she walks toward me if I stand still, then we have a few minutes silent communication at a safe distance for her, then she simply turns and wanders off again. It makes me feel very privileged!

Witzend

The young males have tiny ones - they evident get bigger with each season. We’ve often noticed that we hardly ever see the really big stags until the autumn rutting season, when they’re very busy chasing off other stags from their ‘harem’, bellowing and often clashing antlers with rivals.

More than once we’ve seen a big stag with a lot of dead bracken festooned in his antlers - apparently it’s supposed to make them look bigger and more scary, but to us they look more like someone the morning after a really wild party!

Actually, it probably is a stag after a really wild party, when you think about it!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202203/medium-206951-197.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202203/medium-113716-195.jpg

We have a pair which my husband's family had from before he was born. In our previous house in Aberdeenshire we had them on the outside window sill of our kitchen. The red squirrels used to sharpen or possibly wear down their teeth on them.

My neighbour wants me to cut down the bullice (cherry plums) near our shared fence because the blossom gets blown on his car port roof. I admit the trees are not the most pretty . If I trim the trees , they will grow even bigger . I am not able to trim them myself.....too decrepit . Any ideas ?

Oops I replied before finishing the thread, MaggsMcG sorry you'd already said it.

Elegran (but female reindeer have antlers, too. Rudolph may be a girl ) I thought Rudolph and indeed the whole troop of Father Christmas's reindeer were thought to be females because the males have shed their antlers by the end of November to mid December, whereas females keep theirs until May. Of course being magical flying reindeers, the laws of nature may not apply

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202203/medium-762656-deer-standing.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202203/medium-795936-deer-hiding.jpg

I love these two pictures.

I'm missing something here. If the antlers are shed yearly then how come these are so big? Surely they can't grow that size in a year.

MaggsMcG

Make reindeer lose their antlers Autumn. So therefore all Santa's reindeer including Rudolph are female.

Not surprising really - they find their way to all those houses with children without getting lost once. They must be female.

Wow that's amazing to find that while out.

Make reindeer lose their antlers Autumn. So therefore all Santa's reindeer including Rudolph are female.

My dog would love that. Funnily enough I’m actually out in the forest now and have just seen a few deer, my stupid dog didn’t have a clue they were there ?