During the thrilling mating season, majestic stags exude a musk-like substance, emitting a powerful, alluring scent. This serves as their unique form of communication, signaling their presence to females and rival males. These remarkable creatures are the only species of true deer to roam the African plains. The males, referred to as “stags” or “harts,” boast the remarkable ability to shed and regrow their antlers, each year larger and more impressive than before. These antlers have been revered throughout history, used for both decoration and furniture in Europe. Incredibly, during the summer, their antlers can grow up to an inch per day. The presence of red deer has been etched into human history through captivating cave art dating back 40,000 years. These extraordinary creatures spend the majority of their lives in same-sex herds, only uniting during the heightened energy of the mating season. Female herds can swell to as many as 50 members, while male herds adopt a more loosely structured dynamic, with older stags often setting off to live solitary lives. Amongst stags aged 4-11, a compelling dance unfolds as they follow herds of up to 20 hinds from August through early winter, fervently mating with multiple females. Their resounding roars serve to maintain their harem and fend off rival males, with the distant echoes captivating all who hear them. It’s fascinating to observe that females are most drawn to stags who roar frequently and fervently.