The annual national stag calling championship in Dortmund, Germany, showcased the unique tradition of hunters imitating the bellowing of red deer to attract them during the rutting season. This age-old practice dates back hundreds of years and was originally used to lure stags out so hunters could assess them before deciding to shoot.
The competition, held at the Jagd & Hund trade fair, featured hunters in traditional garb, including green hats with chamois hair tufts, using various instruments to mimic the sound of a stag. From ox horns to triton snail shells, the hunters employed a range of tools to amplify the vocalizations of the deer.
According to the organizers, a stag’s calls are diverse and can vary based on factors such as age, state of mind, and the rutting season. In Dortmund, participants competed in three disciplines: mimicking the call of an old stag, the dominant male in a group of does, and a duel between two equally strong stags during peak rutting season. The jury, listening with closed eyes, focused solely on the authenticity of the sound.
Fabian Wenzel, a hunter from Nüdlingen, Bavaria, emerged as the champion for the fifth consecutive year. He expressed his passion for playing with the stags and the thrill of potentially shooting an old stag after successfully calling it. Wenzel’s victory earned him a spot in the upcoming European Stag Calling Championships in Lithuania this October.
The competition not only celebrates the ancient tradition of stag calling but also highlights the skill and dedication of hunters in preserving this practice. As Wenzel prepares to represent Germany on the European stage, the spirit of the hunt and the art of stag calling continue to captivate audiences and participants alike.
