A beautiful story

There are a number of important reasons that we keep deer heads, says Graham Downing, not least because they are an essential record

- Graham Downing

Why do we prepare and keep the heads of the deer that we shoot? Why do we measure them and treasure them in the way that we do? Since the dawn of time, hunters have retained the antlered heads of the deer that they have taken in the chase. Initially, no doubt, it was in order to demonstrate their own personal prowess and the richness of the hunting grounds over which they had control and also for sheer delight at the beauty of the antlers themselves — one of nature’s wonders.

Appreciation and enjoyment of what is effectively a piece of natural art is still with us. One only has to look inside the average interior design shop to see that the artificial representation of an antlered head manufactured for hanging on the wall of a living room or study is still alive and well. They may be multicoloured miniatures sculpted in plastic or resin, but stag’s head wall mounts remain popular decorations.

For the deerstalker, though, the urge to retain and display antlered heads is about more than simply decorating the house or workspace. Each head tells the story of a successful hunt. It helps us recall a day when, through our own skill, we took a wild animal from hill or wood. It enables us to bring to mind precious memories, to celebrate our quarry and afford it the respect it deserves.

Each head also lays bare the story of the deer itself. Its age and status within the population, the time of year at which it was taken, or maybe the effects wrought by injury or disease. At once, it becomes more than a mere memento. It becomes part of the record of the species and its management.