Isle of Skye - Deer Recognition - seen this morning

[mattch]

Morning All - I am brand new to deer stalking, studying for my DSC 1 whilst staying on Skye. This morning, just outside of Glendale, I saw these handsome chaps. Red or Sika (and how do you know?!)

• Are they Red? Yellowish rumps, and no black marks on the ears and no white metatarsal glands
• Are they Sika? Fewer points on the antlers, brow points are pointing up at 45 degrees and I think the last one is frowning at me!

I am 90% sure they're Red deer, but happy to be corrected/all learning points welcome - thank you! There are 4 x photos below.

Matt

 

[Scuffy]

Red. Size/shape/antler shape
I could be wrong but I don't think there are any Sika on Skye

 

[takbok]

Lovely pics, they're red deer. They're a lot bigger than sika with more angular look to them. Bigger heads with longer nose. Characteristic cream coloured rump.

 

[Dave_45]

A sika stag was seen walking across the bridge to Skye some years ago , they will be there ,unless they have been shot ,but I would say those are red.

 

[Foxyboy43]

A sika stag was seen walking across the bridge to Skye some years ago , they will be there ,unless they have been shot ,but I would say those are red.

Clever deer!
Reds and Sika are known to swim long distances especially when a stag gets wind of a hind or two.
Many years ago I managed a small herd of fallow on an island in the middle of a very large freshwater lough - the shortest distance to land was around half a kilometre. On two occasions whilst crossing by boat I saw a buck swimming island-wards - clearly with one thought on his mind - sadly before I had a fone camera. Many years later close by a fallow buck was photographed doing the same thing….

 

[McKenzie]

I wok on Skye sometimes & I’ve seen a few roe there too.

 

[Nickb]

Red

 

[mike308]

They are reds. I've seen a lot in that area. If you have got your fishing rods you can catch good sized Spurdogs in the loch.

 

[09mutley05]

Seen Sika on Skye in the forestry by the ferry crossing from Glenelg.

 

[.25-06]

As others pointed out Reds, a Sika would be mortfied to be seen that far from cover.

 

[Tom270]

Red, seen Roe this week 2 in garden or 1 twice at Staffin and one just outside Portree with a limp.