This stag is trying to make a good impression to females during the rutting season – by sporting an entire CARPET on his huge antlers.
The animal’s bizarre head-dress was snapped by Jim Gear, 77, who spotted it walking by a beauty spot near his home in Cannock, Staffs., on Monday .
The grandfather-of-one said: “It is rutting season this time of the year and I thought it may have been something to do with that.
“He didn’t look concerned by having a carpet on his head. In fact he was flicking it around quite proudly.
“I understand they do it on purpose to make themselves more attractive to the ladies this time of the year as it is rutting time.
“I saw about three or four deer but this one caught my eye as it was the only one with a carpet draped over its horns.
“It looked like it was covered in bits of rope, string and carpet, probably from the tip.
“It is a great, big tip, which all of Staffordshire use. They obviously been routing around in the rubbish there.”
Countryside ranger Robert Taylor said it was not uncommon for this to happen during mating season as the stags start to pursue the females.
He added: “In October and November, they stick their antlers into the ground and keep twisting their heads to stretch their neck muscles.
“They don’t eat or sleep much at this time of the year.
“They make a mud hole and roll around in it so it makes them look bigger.
“With areas such as landfill and tip sites, there can be bits of litter around which they can pick off the floor. It’s not uncommon to see deer on the tip.”
