Divided opinion on trespassing deer in Killarney

AT THIS time, walkers in areas frequented by deer can come across cast antlers, treasured by some. March is the month when mature stags shed their antlers, writes Donal Hickey

Once seen as trophies by deer stalkers, big antlers can be ornaments in a house and can also have practical uses, like coat hangers for instance.

Sometimes, you’ll see stags going around with just one antler. This is explained by the fact that they shed one at a time and new antlers begin to grow immediately. Discarded antlers can be chewed by stags and hinds for their mineral contents. However, it’s still possible to find perfect antlers in grass, with those of red deer being bigger, heavier and having more points than sika deer antlers.