A stag is an adult male deer, especially a red deer with a full set of antlers. In forests across Europe and parts of Asia, stags are magnificent animals that can weigh over 500 pounds and stand five feet tall at the shoulder. Their branching antlers, which they shed and regrow each year, can span four feet across.

During mating season in autumn, stags engage in dramatic fights called the rut, clashing their antlers together to compete for territory and mates. The sound of their antlers cracking against each other echoes through the forest. Because of their size, strength, and impressive antlers, stags have appeared in myths, coats of arms, and stories for thousands of years.