From roebucks to red stags

We are into July and with it comes the opening of the red stag season. It’s strange, though, that this date seems to drift past with little interest when compared with the buzz surrounding 1 April and the start of the roebucks. However, I have always eagerly looked forward to stalking the first of the red stags, and for the deer manager, it makes perfect sense to start early on the cull and try to get ahead of the game.

In Scotland, red deer have been off the stalking agenda while roe deer have been the focus, so it’s nice to get back out on the largest of our native species. However, there is a downside. July coincides with an explosion of biting insects, including the Scottish midge. As my