It's not often a stag shows up on someone's doorstep or inside their home.

Awakeri Hot Springs resident Bob McNeil, 90, calls it a "chance in a million" to have a stag chased into his caravan by hunters and pig dogs.

At 2.30am last Friday, McNeil was suddenly woken by a "blimmin' disturbance".

He could hear dogs barking and then he heard a stag squeal.

"The dogs were putting nips into the deer," he said.

"Stags make a terrible squeal - it's a sort of blood curdling squeal.

"The next thing, there was a bit of a crash and the deer had smashed through the sliding door of my awning."

McNeil said the stag backed itself into the awning.

"I thought, oh blow this, and went to open the door. But my daughter who was staying with me, wouldn't let me because it would tear me to pieces with its antlers."

It wasn't long before the noise settled, and McNeil opened the door to find the stag dead on the floor.

"I didn't know how bad it was going to be.

"Then the hunters came along and told me they would shoot home, get their truck and winch to remove the deer."

When the hunters left, McNeil said it was an opportunity for photos with the four-point deer.

"I stood over its back, grabbed its antlers and lifted its head. My daughter took some photos.

"It was a joke that I went out and had a wrestle with a stag, at 90 years old."

The hunters returned and took the stag away.

Four days later they returned with a big bag of venison and money to fix a couple things that were broken.

"They were absolutely marvellous. I asked if they knew of a butcher who could make sausages and they told me not to worry, that they would bring me sausages too.

"They have more than compensated me.

"I have given some to the owners, Fiona and Kevin Haig because the hunters have given me three times more than I could ever get to."

McNeil is also grateful to Coastal Caravans who helped repair the door of his awning quickly.

During the 23 years he has lived at the Awakeri Hot Springs, nothing has come close to this hunters, pig dogs and stag encounter. "That was a chance in a million, to have a stag in your awning."

He knows there are stags in the bush surrounding the hot springs, and that the animals are strong jumpers so he isn't surprised that this one leapt over the boundary fence.

Source: Whakatane Beacon