A short kit list for stalking red stags on the hill, built around the things that matter most out there: your feet, your face and the rut.
Boots
Hill stalking means long days on steep, wet ground. The Meindl Dovre Extreme GTX is the tall, stiff hill boot; the Dovre Pro (Short) GTX is the lower-cut version. Break either in before the first long day. More in Meindl.
Calls
The rut runs from late September into October. A roaring call from Hubertus or the Illinois River reed call can locate a stag or draw a challenger closer. Use it sparingly – a call that sounds wrong or is overused will send stags the other way. See deer calls.
Headwear
A pale face gives you away on open ground long before movement does. The SwedTeam Ridge neck gaiter, beanie and cap in Desolve Veil camo cover it. More in SwedTeam and hats and caps.
Before you go out
Red stag season dates differ between Scotland and England and Wales, as do the legal minimums for calibre and bullet energy. Check the current rules for where you are stalking.
Getting a stag off the hill is its own problem: see deer extraction. For the smaller deer, see roe buck essentials, or the full stalking range.
