Petworth Park Fallow Deer Rut 2009

Sean Howell · #1 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 08:14 PM

I'm thinking of going over to Petworth this October to see the fallow deer rutting. Does anyone know when the rut reaches it's peak there? Or the best places to find them.

Cheers

salukiwhippet · #2 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 09:56 PM

Most ruts are triggered by weather, our fallow haven't started yet, I heard the odd belch last wednesday but nothing since. It's supposed to be dry and cold til next tuesday, so hopefully a few cold nights will make them kick up a gear (and get a frost on the sloes so I can start on this year's gin

)

James

Sean Howell · #3 (**permalink**) 13-10-2009, 08:14 PM

yeah, I haven't heard anything yet, but I have seen one massive white buck and on Saturday I saw a smaller brown one. I think there's 3 bucks around though. Hopefully I'll see some fighting!

Also after the ruts started how long does it tend to last for?

salukiwhippet · #4 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 10:40 PM

Hi Sean,
Ours have started! I stalked into a a group of about 20 on a stand this afternoon, got within about 40 yards before I got busted. There were at least 2 bucks in the area of the stand, so they obviously haven't sorted out who's boss yet! No clashing of antlers yet. I'd expect them to go on for a couple of weeks once they get going properly, but they're late starting this year so who knows!

James

Gill Catton · #5 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 09:27 AM

I think fallow deer are far slower to move to actual fighting, there is usually a lot of head waving and posturing to work out who's stronger - or rather who's preferable to the females. I remember learning at uni about how fallow deer have more of a lekking system of courtship where both males and females gather to show off and mate and things rather than the more widely filmed boss and hareem type structure of the red deer. That is not to say that fallows don't bash heads but I don't think it's as common or dramatic as that which happens in reds

Sean Howell · #6 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 08:37 PM

Thanks, the ruts started with me now too! The past 3 days I've heard deep grunting and on all 3 times seen the white buck. But today was the best. I heard him grunting and slowly crepped across the forest and in the field there he was, compleletly pure white apart from his face with about 20 does.
There's 2 bucks in the area but I haven't seem them together at all. I'm hoping to go to Petworth next weekend, does anyone know if this would be a good time or is it too late?

Cheers