Thread: Deer size comparison....

I thought Fallow,Sika and Whitetail were all similar size except parts of the US where whitetail can be nearly the size of a red?

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

I thought Fallow,Sika and Whitetail were all similar size except parts of the US where whitetail can be nearly the size of a red?

Depends on the area a lot Cam. We often pulled Sika stags that weighed more than red stags out of the Kaweka's and Kaimanawa's. On good tucker those Sika stags were as round and fat as hogs.

I know of two that were hung up by Keeley 187lb and 214lb. Its awhile ago but I don't remember any red stags coming out of that area that beat them. People claimed they must have been hybrids but there was no evidence they were.

The Kaimanawa and Kaweka reds were well know for their small size and lack of stamina. They often died in the back of the machine on the way after being netted.

Originally Posted by Scribe

Depends on the area a lot Cam. We often pulled Sika stags that weighed more than red stags out of the Kaweka's and Kaimanawa's. On good tucker those Sika stags were as round and fat as hogs.

I know of two that were hung up by Keeley 187lb and 214lb. Its awhile ago but I don't remember any red stags coming out of that area that beat them. People claimed they must have been hybrids but there was no evidence they were.

The Kaimanawa and Kaweka reds were well know for their small size and lack of stamina. They often died in the back of the machine on the way after being netted.

Yep of course there will be variations, one area I hunt even a mature red stag would struggle to make 80k gutted minus head and hocks while another less than 50km away as the crow flys I have shot several hinds over 100k gutted headed and hocked and a spiker just growing his first spikes over 100k, none had any fat over their rump to speak of but just big framed muscular animals on good tucker.
big old red stags can put on a fair bit of fat in the right country but not often I see it around here.
Fallow tho,jeeze the bucks can pile on the fat!

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Yep of course there will be variations, one area I hunt even a mature red stag would struggle to make 80k gutted minus head and hocks while another less than 50km away as the crow flys I have shot several hinds over 100k gutted headed and hocked and a spiker just growing his first spikes over 100k, none had any fat over their rump to speak of but just big framed muscular animals on good tucker.
big old red stags can put on a fair bit of fat in the right country but not often I see it around here.
Fallow tho,jeeze the bucks can pile on the fat!

A Jap stag we got last xmas had well marbled meat and a layer of thick yellow fat under his skin like hard butter. It must have been an inch thick in places.

It was though an exceptional winter and spring in the NW Ruahine last year. I have never seen the deer fatter.

They will be doing a lot harder this year though. We are getting into the latter part of November and we still appear in the grip of the equinox. I have nearly forgotten what a fish looks like now.

Whitebaiting tomorrow I hope.