Heaviest red stag shot in the UK

[Heym SR20]

I have seen a head mounted with a plaque stating 28st 6lbs. It is part of a collection of many heads all shot on the same estate over the last 100 years. Just about all are Royals weighing well over 20 stone.

 

[User00025]

Yes I remember that sika well, twisted my knee trying to get it out of a ditch.
As you know we have some big stags in Staffordshire. This one is massive (not my photo)
A local fella into his wildlife puts trail cameras out.

There are some big beasts around Upper London. They are descendants of the old Beaudessert park herd. Gerald Springthorpe had some big heads when he worked for the FC.

 

[User00025]

Thats a heavy Sika. Not heard of to many in NZ that come in at that.
Might get a few around the miltary zone and pine blocks.
You must have good soil for them to get that big.

From memory the biggest I put through our larder in the Tweed valley was 10st 6 or 10st 8. My old Colonel shot it. That was to dealer everything off.

 

[baguio]

23.5st/147kg larder weight. Ancient beast almost fully gone back to a switch, teeth well worn. I didn’t even attempt to lift it, farmer arrived after a call with a load all to get it into the hilux.

prior to this I’ve had a few around the 20 mark, got to keep the chiropractor in work haven’t we View attachment 222052

I don't suppose you have a front on picture of the head do you? I would be interested to see how wide the span is. Also, do you have any idea of age? I'm thinking 17+.

 

[sikamalc]

Was one of them called 'Rocky' perchance?

It was. The right hand picture. You heard of him, obviously. And know Colin too. A great guy. He shot his first Sika with me.

 

[Cranhill]

No definitely Thetford I believe the FC were doing them for £500. I also believe Big Bill J shot one as well. In the early days (RW's time) they were takeable as per the old photos. Hilary wanted it to go to the cottage.

I stand corrected. I believe DMT had Stag (bronze) from Euston just a few years before he passed away.

 

[sikamalc]

Just noticed the date on the photo. Jesus time flies.
I used to stalk regularly with Colin at Hulne Abbey, big Reds, Fallow and Roe. Apart from the Duke himself, the only others at the time allowed to take Big Red Stags was Colin and myself, although I never personally shot them, it was always my clients. Used to rent the Dukes sisters house too. Lady Victoria Fellows. A delightful lady to deal with.

The stag was nicknamed Rocky, after Rocky Stallon from the movie. It had killed several stags, and had also chased one of the keepers through a pheasant pen and tossed the quad bike. These stags were not penned or fenced either, as you know. Quite some place to stalk back in the old days. When we came to stalk the stag, it had left the estate, which sounds impossible knowing the size of the place. It was 13 miles around the inner part!!

As luck would have it the stag turned up a couple of days later looking for hinds no doubt. The American client shot it with a 300 win mag, twice! Luckily it was on a fairly accessible area. Some stags we took on the place were a nightmare to get out.

 

[finnbear270]

Here is the 17 pointer shot in 2009 Isle of Arran Stalking Scheme.View attachment 222062

Reminds me of the stalker with the brand new Jaguar saloon, trying to put similar in the car to take home, eventually left it against the FC office wall.

 

[Will mac]

27st. 8lbs on South Uist in 1989 with a client. Took 3 of us 4 hours to drag it back off the hill to the boat in the days before the estate had an argo. Purchased one soon after!!

 

[stalker.308]

This one was 168kg dressed weight, suffolk, thats 26.45 stone and I know my friend has had much bigger off the ground…..

 

[JH83]

I don't suppose you have a front on picture of the head do you? I would be interested to see how wide the span is. Also, do you have any idea of age? I'm thinking 17+.

He’s got to be up there, late teens. He was in company with 2 small 10’s and a good royal.

 

[sikamalc]

The biggest stag I have taken, (head wise) although on a park was this beast. The smaller one needed culling and was a freebie. The client was from the USA. I cannot remember what it weighed as its a few years back now.

 

[Pete6.5]

 

[Pete6.5]

This video will give you a idea of a stags life span

 

[Pete6.5]

I'm always a bit sceptical about claims of nearly 20 year old stags

 

[DavyG]

167.5 Kg to the game stealer.
DG

 

[wytonpjs]

17 pointer off Arran 27st.
12 pointer biggest head in Scotland(Garroch) since records began 132kg larder weight.Donated it to head office of BASC Scotland. Believe its now just been beaten.

Taken on 8 September this year on Stag Week 1 On the Arran BASC scheme by my stalking partner. Only an 8-pointer, but 147 kg larder weight (23.2 stone) according to Chris Brooks. The ex-Ranger believes it was 30 stone hill weight and, having helped to gralloch it, extract it and having brought the head back with us, I wouldn’t disagree.

 

[deerstalker.308]

My largest as @stalker.308 says is 182kg (28.66 stone) larder weight, Suffolk. Off the same ground as his. My largest hind was 92kg larder weight.

 

[NickJ]

Reds
Scotland, 21 stone, a Galloway forestry stag, extraction aided by a forwarder, best use of a bottle of Scotch I have ever purchased!
England, 26 stone, an RTA on the edge of New Forest that had I had to despatch, broke my heart as I knew him well.

 

[Deutsch - Drahthaar]

My heaviest was 150kg larder weight from Wigtown D&G