Glen Orchy Wapiti Pen

On a gentle south-east facing slope in Glen Orchy lies a deer pen constructed to hold Wapiti in the late 19th Century. The pen measures 91m north-east to south-west by 42.3m. The pen is constructed of a series of iron panels bolted together. These fence panels are supported to the outside by a series of S-curved posts bolted into the fence panels. The entrance to the pen lies in the north-east of the enclosure. Wapiti were introduced to Scotland from Canada in the 19th Century to increase body and antler size of hunting trophies. To this end matings between wapiti males and red deer females were encouraged by keeping individuals within enclosures. Despite the known success in cross breeding the two species it appears that Wapiti introductions were not very effective in changing the native population. The introductions may have been hindered by a high mortality rate of Wapiti in Scotland.