Man gored by stag he keeps as pet

Stags’ antlers can be formidable weapons. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A stag that gored its owner yesterday was being kept as a pet, a deer farmer on a nearby property says.

Toby Taylor suffered multiple puncture wounds to his legs caused by the antlers of the stag when it attacked him in the morning.

He was on a farm near Frasertown in Hawkes Bay when the attack occurred around 9.40am, a spokeswoman for the Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter said.

The 50-year-old was taken by ambulance to Wairoa Hospital and then transferred by helicopter to Napier Hospital.

Wairoa deer farmer Tony Jarden said Mr Taylor kept the stag on his property in Mangapoike, east of Frasertown.

Mr Taylor's sister had told Mr Jarden her brother treated it as a pet.

Mr Jarden said he had also kept a stag as a pet, but wouldn't recommend it.

"They're dangerous to have. Best thing to do is shoot them."

Last night, Mr Taylor was in a stable condition in Napier Hospital.