Thread: Stags hard under velvet yet?

Off hunting this weekend and incoming weather may mean we have to change directions from the chamois mission we had planned originally. Might change tack and look for a stag but wondering if they would be hard under the velvet yet? I understand this normally happens in Feb so does Feb 3rd count?? Otherwise it could be a scouting mission for the roar. Cheers

Million dollar question and Lso anhow longs a string, obviously the older they are typically yes....this guy was shot early Jan and luckily hard under a still quit thick velvet on the ends....

Hamish

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Originally Posted by jpurdon

Off hunting this weekend and incoming weather may mean we have to change directions from the chamois mission we had planned originally. Might change tack and look for a stag but wondering if they would be hard under the velvet yet? I understand this normally happens in Feb so does Feb 3rd count?? Otherwise it could be a scouting mission for the roar. Cheers

so many around just shoot they will taste the same

Shot one in canterbury on sunday middle aged stag .
He was hard but still had a bit of blood flowing to the tips id say anything mature will be fine

Just be patient. They may feel hard under the velvet, but they'll still be chalky/brittle for a couple of weeks yet and very easily damaged/broken.

What's considered a middle age stag? 5-6-7 yrs? Best way to confirm age is cut a molar down the middle, bit of hand polishing on the cut face & using a x10 magnifying glass count the rings/lines. Takes a bit of practice but is reasonably precise.
Over recent years hunting velvet stags for trophies has become more popular with artificial colouring of antlers when stripped. The meat tastes great but stripped velvet stags don't get measured for any NZ records/National Comps - it becomes a personal thing for the shooter.

Be fine.go get em

As a general rule, Reds good to go Waitangi weekend. Sika and Fallow at least a month longer.

Cheers all, will see how it pans out.

Late March lol

Son shot a good one on Thursday, striped well but wouldn’t want to be a day earlier, ideally another week or two. The young 8-10 pointers we saw defiantly not ready. Rakaia - Canterbury

Shot two this evening, 7 & 8 points, both nowhere near hard toward tips. Not in the best condition either considering they’re raiding the vineyards. Great to finally get some reasonable rainfall today.

Some will be some won’t mid feb is safer couple fallow round here are still miles off

flavour of the month in nz is to shoot em before hard an complain not any big ones

oh an post sayin you cant eat antlers anyway

Shot a 10 tonight tips slightly soft but not far off hard, still nice and bright in the thermal so plenty of blood still in them