The date of antler casting, age and social hierarchy relationships in the red deer stag

A five-year observation of social interactions and the antler cycle of the stag was performed in the "white" red deer population in the Žehušice game reserve, Czechoslovakia. The results indicate that the antler casting time of individual stags was dependent primarily on social status and that the influence of age was of secondary importance. The more dominant the stag, the earlier antler casting occurred. The stags of higher social status also tended to shed velvet earlier, although this relationship was not significant. The hormonal regulation of the antler cycle relating to social hierarchy is discussed.