New Forest Deer

Keith Talbot · #1 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 09:25 PM

October is nearly here and to me it means only one thing Deer Rutting!!

At this time of year i start to scout out the forest and check out the Deer movement,this year im going to try and see the Sika rutting which ive not seen before,i was lucky enough last year to see plenty of Fallow rutting (although not on a certain WAB meet!

).

I went out last week for a quick whistle stop tour of the usual haunts and hit lucky with sightings of 4 different species in a few hours!

Heres a few pics

This mighty Red Stag had already started Gathering hinds,i counted 7 with him.

The Sika were in good number,i spotted 4 stags and around 12 hinds in a short walk.

And a bonus to the walk was this Roe Fawn,it let me get fairly close before running off to mum.

I didnt get a chance of a Fallow pic,they didnt hang around long enough all i kept seeing was a flash of white bum!

Due to the nature of my quick tour i didnt stop for many pics but later this week im planning on spending more time with the Sika so hopefully will get some more pics

Bring on October!!

WendyRydzynski · #2 (**permalink**) 16-09-2009, 06:04 AM

I love spotting the deer too. earlier on in the year we were having a picnic not far from Bolton's Bench in Lyndhurst and were lucky enough to see about a dozen deer and two white stags all together. They were a few hundred yards away so we didnt see them close up, but there is always someting special about spotting them. perhaps because they are so shy?

can you recommend any good spots?

Keith Talbot · #3 (**permalink**) 16-09-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WendyRydzynski

can you recommend any good spots?

Hi wendy,welcome to wab

It depends on what species you want to see,the fallow are all over the forest and the most well know spot is at Bolderwood,they've stopped feeding them now tho and at this time of year the deer tend to move deeper into the forest ready for the rut so you need to look a bit harder.

The most well known spot for the Reds is at Ober Heath and surrounding area,they will start gathering there in greater number now again ready for the rut.