Location

• General Range: red deer are common and widespread across large parts of Europe and North America.
• Norwegian Distribution: this specific subspecies (C. e. atlanticus) is found throughout southern Norway up to Nordland, covering almost all municipalities in that expanse.
• Core Areas: the counties of Vestland (formerly Vestlandsfylka) and parts of Trøndelag are considered the core regions for this population.
• Expansion: the population is currently expanding further into the southern, eastern, and northern regions of Norway.

Description

• Size (Males): stags reach full body size at six to eight years of age, weighing up to 235 kg. They have a shoulder height of 120–140 cm and a body length of 210–230 cm.
• Size (Females): smaller than males, reaching full size at five years with a weight of 80–120 kg. They stand 100–120 cm at the shoulder with a length of 170–190 cm.
• Antlers: the finest antlers develop between seven to ten years of age, typically featuring five to seven spikes per side. After 10–12 years, antler volume and spike count gradually decrease.
• Longevity: while the record age in Norway is 20 years for males and 25 years for females, few animals survive past 10–12 years due to hunting pressure.

Remarks

• Behavior and Activity: primarily active during night and twilight. In summer, they have 4–6 grazing periods daily, which reduces to 2–3 periods during the winter.
• The Rut (The Roar): mating season begins in late September. Stags become vocal with loud roars and may engage in violent, sometimes fatal, combat. A stag can lose up to 30% of its body weight during this period.
• Hunting: hunting is a primary driver of population management, with the annual harvest in Norway growing from approximately 10,000 animals in 1990 to over 42,500 in 2018. The mountains of western Norway during the roar offer a premiere experience for sportsmen.
• Genetics: norwegian red deer show significant genetic differentiation from other European populations. This is due to a lower level of variation caused by historical “bottlenecks” (population crashes) occurring during postglacial colonization and again between 100 and 300 years ago.