Rutting Red deer

Lets kick off the LWP blog with our largest land animal the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus). Perhaps October is the best time to see these magnificient beasts and especially the males in rutting action. And one of the best places to see these deer is in London especially the Royal Parks, Richmond, Bushy and Greenwich. I have stalked Red Deer in Highlands with little success and simply the secret is that the deer in London are more used to humans.

The rutting season is the period when males will fight for supremacy to mate with a collection of female deer (hinds). The males can weigh up to 240Kg (530lb), they are extremely aggressive and testosterone driven their singular aim to keep and mate with a harem of hinds and fight off other males who are intent with the same objective. You often hear the deer before you see them , they have a deep bellowing roar which they use to intimidate and warn off rival stags. If this doesn’t work then the stags will fight and often this will lead to serious injuries and on occasion even death.

One word of warning these are wild animals and as such must be approached with caution. An angry stag will charge at you, treat the animas with respect and keep your dog on a lead if walking near. I have photographed Red deer in Richmond Park for several years but this year I was astonished to see the numbers of photographers and watchers. I was also astounded at some pretty stupid behaviour – I.E those approaching a bellowing stag to take a picture on mobile phone. Do not get face to face with a stag ! Do not get between it and its hinds! Do not have ‘speared by red deer as an epitaph’

More information can be found about Red deer from The British Deer Society