Estimated read time: 4 min.
In September, we not only see the first autumn leaves and experience colder weather, but it also signifies the start of the red stag rut season. During this time, it’s important to accurately identify the animals, especially their age. Italian hunter Riccardo Tamburini shares his personal perspectives on the hunting season and discusses the advantages of using thermal devices during this time.
When the roars start
The middle of September is a crucial moment for every hunter because the exciting season of the red stag rut starts. During those days, the wood echoes the roars of the big males, ready to fight for the female’s harem control. The largest male red deer will gather a group of female red deer, called hinds, to mate with. At the same time, smaller male deer will try to mate with the hinds when the dominant stag is busy fighting or worn out from a battle.
In many countries, hunting is allowed during this time, but, for example, in Italy, hunting closes just during the rut, and we can only watch and listen to this beautiful event, taking part in the mating activity.
Some years ago, we could only hear the males roaring at night (it’s easier to listen to them during this time), so we applied some ratios to count the females. In my hunting area, we must consider six females for every roaring stag. It’s also true that a good hunter can understand if the roaring stag is an old male or a younger one: the voice is entirely different, and if you have a trained heart, you can easily understand the age of the stag you are hearing (but not seeing).
The body structure, posture, and quality of the antlers are all details we can easily obtain with a thermal device.
Riccardo Tamburini
From sound to vision
Today, our work is much easier than in the past. Red stags are more confident about roaring in an open space during the night, and thermal technology allows us to see them in the dark. As we play with the device settings, we will also be able to count the points of the stags’ antlers, better understanding which kind of animal we have in front of us. Also, stags will roll about in the vegetation to make themselves look larger. They will also urinate and roll into muddy areas called wallows. All of that can be easily captured with thermal devices.
The red stag is a “capital breeder,” so the antlers give us an idea of the animal’s age. Also, the body structure provides additional information because a young male could have a similar trophy to a very old one with a declined one. However, the body structure, posture, and the position of the neck when walking in the open field are entirely different (90° between the neck and the body for the young and 30-45° for an old male).
This is all the information we can get watching an arena at night: the body structure, posture, and quality of the antlers are all details we can easily obtain with a thermal device.
Thermal devices’ role in gathering the information
The Italian Wildlife Department supports the use of thermal devices for observing animals during the rut. These devices provide more detailed information than standard binoculars or listening devices. My favourite setting is the black hot palette, which displays the antlers as black on the device monitor because they are colder than their surroundings.
By adjusting the brightness and contrast, we can enhance the visibility of the animal against the background, making it easier to count the points on the antlers. I recommend using a low contrast (3/20) and medium brightness (9/20) to keep the background clear and to avoid eye fatigue, especially when observing for extended periods.
The endless possibilities
When choosing the right gear, it is best to focus on high-end devices, like Telos LRF XL50 / LRF XP50 or Merger LRF XL50 / LRF XP50. Why? They will not only effectively spot the animals in various landscapes and weather conditions but also provide a detailed image, which becomes handy in determining animals’ age and sex.
Telos LRF XP50 offers extraordinary thermal sensitivity, allowing the device to spot the smallest temperature differences. Telos LRF XL50 provides an even more detailed HD image since it boasts its 1024×768 @ 12 µm HD thermal imaging sensor. Even after zooming in several times, the image remained sharp and with minimal noise. This means you can identify an animal in the field and get all of its information, which is crucial during the rut season.
Are you a bigger fan of binoculars? Great! In this case, the best option would be Merger LRF XL50 due to its extremely sensitive HD 1024×768 @ 12 µm thermal sensor. Meanwhile, the wide field of view allows you to cover large areas, thus making the Merger LRF XL50 an ideal tool for the rut season when red stags come into open fields.
Before purchasing any night or thermal vision device, please make sure you adhere to the local legislation and only use it when it is allowed. Our ambassadors come from various countries and travel a lot, which allows them to test different devices. We do not encourage or support the illegal use of our devices in any events. If you wish to learn more about export and sales restriction policy, please visit the following link: Export and Sales Restriction Policy.