The tradition of stalking the Scottish stag is firmly entrenched in the highlander heritage. This one fell to a Dakota M76 in .270 Winchester.
We can probably agree that the “stalking rifle” has its origins in the British gun trade, and that in its classic form it’s a beautiful and beautifully light little rifle with origins almost certainly pre-dating smokeless powder (if not self-contained cartridges). But the exact definition, if there is one, is a bit more elusive. Continue reading The Stalking Rifle→
The European Red Deer is the largest of all the red deer and an impressive sight in the field. While found in mainland Europe including Ireland and Scotland, the biggest stags are found in the mountains of eastern Europe, as evidenced by the fact that all of the top ten were taken in Austria. Bold, wary and majestic, we present the Top Ten European Red Stag.
#1 Steven Chancellor took this monster in 2004 Near Miesenbach, Austria with Klemens Bugeinig. It scored 567 2/8″.
#3 Kenneth Behring bagged this beauty in 1999 in Furth, Austria with Klemens Bugeinig. It measured 505 1/8 ‘.
#4 Alexander Smuzikov holds the number four spot with this bruiser that he bagged in 2014 in Burgenland, Austria with European Outfitters. It measures 502 2/8″.
#2 Jacob Avara took this great stag in 2009 with Klemens Bugeinig near Miesenbach, Austria. It measured 538 4/8″.
#6 Kenneth Behring took this stag measuring 469 6/8″ near Furth, Austria in 1998. Outfitter was Klemens Bugeinig.
#7 Ralph Cunningham took the number seven red stag in Meisenbach, Austria in 2011. It measures 467 2/8″.
#8 Stanford Atwood bagged this excellent stag in 2005 in Meisenbach, Austria with Hunt Austria. It measures 462 3/8″.
#9 Vicente Sanchez took this great stag in 2009 with Hunting in Austria near Miesenbach, Austria. It measures 456 1/8″.
#10 Kenneth Behring rounds out the list with this beauty taken in 1995 near Puchberg, Austria and guided by Werner Fleck. It measures 453 6/8 ‘.
#5 (no image) Heiko Hunemeyer holds the number five spot with a 487 6/8″ stag taken near Forstgut, Austria
Editor’s Note: On Friday we dust off some of the old stories from the archives. This week we join a couple of American hunters discovering the challenges of a traditional Red Stag hunt in Scotland. This article originally appeared in the September/October 1995 issue of Safari Magazine.
Editor’s Note: On Friday we dust off some of the old stories from the archives. This week we join a couple of American hunters discovering the challenges of a traditional Red Stag hunt in Scotland. This article originally appeared in the September/October 1995 issue of Safari Magazine. 
