12 Point

Stag-gering how busy the Christmas shopping in Cheltenham was today so glad I got up early with the frost to walk the dogs.

He would have been a 12 pointer, Royal Stag, fairly impressive Red deer I think. Brought out into the dawn breaking light this was slightly easier to photograph. He would have been a herbivore eating heather and grasses, shrubs and trees. I say 'he' because the only female deer with antlers are the Caribou and Reindeer - the antlers growing in order to free up and clear vegetation for food in those areas.

Interestingly the name Hart is the term given to specifically describe a red male deer more than 5 years old. The horns start growing at 10 months and are cast when the testosterone levels fall.