The stunning beast was left to die a "painful and lingering death" after being shot three times.
Experts believed the creature, which already had 19 points on its antlers despite not being fully mature, was set to be a contender for the title of Britain's largest land animal.
The Giant, which had suffered shots to its back and belly, was found dead last weekend.
Local landowners said he had only appeared in the Shirwell area of North Devon in the past month or so.
They added they had done their best to keep the stag a secret for fear of trophy hunters tracking him down.
But news of the beautiful creature soon spread and for the past few weeks the area had been overrun with poachers and deer spotters, all trying to get a glimpse or a shot at the stag.
Vet Peter Green, an advisor to the British Deer Society who examined the animal, said: "He had undoubtedly suffered considerably from these wounds before dying slowly. He was not in his prime.
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