Fallow Deer Attack

[Sean Howell]

I've heard a few stories of fallow deer bucks charging or chasing a human off their rutting stand during the rut.

I was just wondering why a buck may do this or how common this might be?

Thanks

[rona]

I've had one or two that have made me feel a little wary but none have actually charged.

[Beekeeper]

Deer become very brave when the rutting season is in full swing, i disturbed a buck one day with his ladies, they were all congregated in an old apple orchard, i sat in an apple tree for an hour with the buck occasionaly butting it until he gave up and went away, running was not an option at the time.

The second occasion was a Red stag, i was taking my daughter for a walk through the woods when she was young, she spotted the group of deer and wanted to take a picture with her camera, i took her as close as i dared and when the stag started clawing his hoof on the ground and making snorting noises i decided it was time to go, which was just as well, he started walking towards us and then broke into a slow trot, i told my daughter to run and while she did so i turned and shouted as loudly as i could and waved my arms at the stag, he stopped just long enough for me to catch up with my daughter then he went back to his ladies.

he was really big and a hit from his set of antlers would have been very unpleasent.

Ian

[SophieCam]

I was out trying to film some fallow deer for my University project this year.
I was covered head to toe in camouflage and stumbled across a large buck staring directly at me not 10 metres away. Wen I looked around, I saw that in fact I was surrounded by a group of males who looked like they were about to charge.
I quickly removed my head cover and waved my arms around and a bit, thankfully the all backed off.

[Fritillary]

I dont know how frequently they are but I have seen people very silly (maybe ignorant??) that expose themselves to be attacked.
For example in Windsor Park, where it is commun deer fight during the rutting season, I saw a couple walking toward a group of deer just like they did not exist . Fortunately the deer moved on but I thought what foulish thing to do...
Other day in Oxford I saw a 2 yo boy walking toward a swan that had babies I was almost going to take the little one but I stopped because I saw her mum some meters behind... I was just waiting the swan would jump onto the little boy, but again luckily, the child stopped and the swan moved away with her little ones.

Later it is said that animals are dangerous blah blah but if people do not take basic measures to avoid bother animals (at least during the rutting season or while having a family), well what could we expect of animals?

People have been dead or bad hurt with cattle, just they go too close to them and if they feel afraid, they attack or run with sad consequences :-(

[dunlin]

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

Deer become very brave when the rutting season is in full swing, i disturbed a buck one day with his ladies, they were all congregated in an old apple orchard, i sat in an apple tree for an hour with the buck occasionaly butting it until he gave up and went away, running was not an option at the time.

The second occasion was a Red stag, i was taking my daughter for a walk through the woods when she was young, she spotted the group of deer and wanted to take a picture with her camera, i took her as close as i dared and when the stag started clawing his hoof on the ground and making snorting noises i decided it was time to go, which was just as well, he started walking towards us and then broke into a slow trot, i told my daughter to run and while she did so i turned and shouted as loudly as i could and waved my arms at the stag, he stopped just long enough for me to catch up with my daughter then he went back to his ladies.

he was really big and a hit from his set of antlers would have been very unpleasent.

Ian

sounds like you had a lucky escape ian

[dunlin]

I go watching and photographing deer whenever i get the time. It always amazes me how quite and well camoflaged they are.
A couple of years ago i was in a woods watching fallow deer from a high vantage point, a forty foot cliff thats heavily wooded. when i turned around i noticed a large stag some 25ft away staring straight at me. I didnt move but stood for some time watching it before he turned and walked away.
It was only after i started thinking how close id come to trouble, there was nowhere to run and im not a great climber.
The thing was the deer had approached from behind and i hadnt heard a thing.
regards mark.............

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by dunlin

sounds like you had a lucky escape ian

dunlin
Yes, i wasn't too worried about myself but my daughter, being young at the time was very vunerable, thank goodness she escaped unscathed, i could have never faced the world if anything had happened to her, even now, 20 or so years later my daughter is everything to me.

Ian