Elk are bigger than red stags. A mature bull elk weighs 600 to 1,100 pounds. A mature red stag weighs 350 to 550 pounds. Elk also stand taller and run longer.
This guide gives the full red stag vs elk size breakdown, from body weight to antler spread.
Elk vs Red Stag Size
The elk wins. An average bull elk is about one and a half to two times heavier than an average red stag. Elk also have a longer, deeper body and longer legs.
One note on names: a red stag is a mature male red deer (Cervus elaphus). An elk, or wapiti, is Cervus canadensis. Scientists once grouped them as one species. DNA studies split them in the early 2000s.
A mature red stag carries 350 to 550 pounds in prime condition. Weight peaks just before the rut in autumn. It then drops fast, because stags barely eat while they guard hinds.
A mature bull elk usually weighs 600 to 1,100 pounds. Most Rocky Mountain bulls land near 700 to 850 pounds. Elk win on weight by a wide margin.
Red Stag vs Elk Shoulder Height
A red stag stands about 3.5 to 4.5 feet at the shoulder. A bull elk stands about 4.5 to 5 feet. Picture a stag reaching your chest. A bull elk reaches your shoulder or higher.
Elk legs are also longer and thicker. That gives them a taller, more upright look, even without antlers.
Red Stag vs Elk Body Length
Measured nose to tail, a red stag runs roughly 5.5 to 7.5 feet. A bull elk runs roughly 6.5 to 9 feet. The elk’s neck, chest and rump are all heavier and longer. Elk win again.
Stag vs Bull Elk Size
Females are smaller in both species. A red deer hind weighs about 200 to 350 pounds. A cow elk weighs about 400 to 650 pounds. So a big hind is smaller than most cow elk.
In both species, males run about 30 to 50 percent heavier than females. This gap is called sexual dimorphism. It is wider in animals that fight over harems.
Elk antlers are built for length. The main beams sweep back and can pass 50 inches. The spread often reaches 40 to 50 inches. These are long, tall, heavy racks.
Red stag antlers are shorter and more upright. The beams usually run 30 to 40 inches. The rack looks tall and bushy, not long and sweeping.
Antler Points
A typical bull elk grows six points per side. This is called a 6×6, or royal. The tines are long and spaced out along the beam.
A red stag grows a cluster of tines at the top. This cluster is the crown, or cup. Mature stags carry 10 to 16 points or more. A 12-point stag is a Royal. A 14-point is an Imperial. A 16-point is a Monarch.
Stags win on point count. Elk win on length and mass.
Antler Weight and Trophy Scoring
Large elk racks can weigh 30 pounds or more. Red stag racks usually weigh about 8 to 15 pounds. A few giant Carpathian stags carry more.
Trophy scoring also differs. Elk are usually scored with the Boone and Crockett or Safari Club systems for elk. Red stags use their own formula. That formula credits crown quality, point count and mass. So you can’t compare a stag score to an elk score.
A bull moose is the largest deer on Earth. It weighs 800 to 1,500 pounds and stands 5 to 6.5 feet at the shoulder. Its body runs 7 to 10 feet long. A red stag weighs 350 to 550 pounds and stands about 4 feet tall.
The story is simple. A moose can weigh two to three times more than a red stag. Moose win by a huge margin.
Elk vs Moose Size
A bull elk weighs 600 to 1,100 pounds and stands 4.5 to 5 feet tall. A bull moose weighs 800 to 1,500 pounds and stands 5 to 6.5 feet tall. Alaska-Yukon moose can top 1,500 pounds.
The gap is smaller here. A big Roosevelt bull can match a small moose. Still, an average moose is taller, longer and heavier. Moose win.
Elk Size vs Red Stag and Whitetail Deer
A whitetail buck weighs 150 to 300 pounds and stands 3 to 3.5 feet tall. Its body runs 5 to 6.5 feet long. A red stag is about twice as heavy. A bull elk is about three to four times as heavy.
Both the stag and the elk beat the whitetail. The elk wins by far.
Elk Size vs Red Stag and Horse
A typical riding horse weighs about 1,000 pounds and stands about 5 feet at the withers. A red stag is far lighter, at about half a horse. A bull elk is close to horse size, and a large Roosevelt bull can match or pass one.
Against a horse, the stag loses clearly. The elk is a near tie, with a slight edge to the horse in height.
Elk Size vs Red Stag and Human
An average U.S. adult man is about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs about 200 pounds. A red stag is roughly two to three times heavier. A bull elk is three to five times heavier, and its shoulder reaches your chest or higher.
Both animals easily beat a human. The elk wins by the widest gap.
No. A bull elk is bigger. It weighs 600 to 1,100 pounds, while a red stag weighs 350 to 550.
How much does a red stag weigh compared to an elk?
A red stag weighs about 350 to 550 pounds. A bull elk weighs about 600 to 1,100 pounds, so elk are usually 1.5 to 2 times heavier.
Is a red stag taller than an elk?
No. A red stag stands about 3.5 to 4.5 feet at the shoulder. A bull elk stands about 4.5 to 5 feet.
Which has bigger antlers, a red stag or an elk?
Elk have longer, heavier antlers. Red stags have more points, because of the crown at the top of each antler.
Are red stag and elk the same species?
No. Red stags are Cervus elaphus. Elk are Cervus canadensis. They are close relatives and can interbreed.
What is the largest red stag or elk ever recorded?
Roosevelt bull elk are the biggest of the two, with weights of up to about 1,300 pounds. The largest red stags are Carpathian types, with reports above 500 pounds.
Hi, I’m Natalie Collins, the admin at MooseSizes.com. We simplify animal sizes, measurements, and wildlife comparisons with easy-to-follow guides, useful size charts, and accurate information to help you understand animal dimensions with confidence.
