Red deer (Cervus elaphus)
Red deer lives on the Estonian territory by the northern border of its natural habitat. Local population has started from the animals that were brought in. Only 200 red deer are counted in the RMK hunting districts. Mating season is in September and in the beginning of October. The stags bugle and butt each other, strong stags gather around themselves “a harem” of hinds. Gestation lasts for 8 months, the calves are born in the end of May or in the beginning of June. The number of calves is 1-2. In autumn, the calves form about 25% of the population. Adult stags weigh on the average 200 kilograms, the hinds around 100 kilograms. The size of population is affected the most by natural conditions.Red deer may be hunted by calling hunt, hunting from hides or stalking hunt from 1st September to 30th September and by calling hunt, hunting from hides or driven hunt and hunt with hunting dogs, except the hounds, from 1st October to 31st January; hinds may be hunted from 1st September to 30th November; stags and calves may be hunted on from 1st September to 31st January.
As a rule, the stags are hunted following the principles of selective shooting by hunting from hides and stalking hunt. During the mating season the stags lose their usual caution.
In 2004, 200 red deer were counted in the RMK hunting districts, from which 20 animals were hunted. Only a few trophy stags are hunted during the hunting season. Antlers may win medals starting from the weight of five kilograms. In the RMK hunting districts the red deer are hunted only in the Kuressaare and Leluselja hunting districts.