Sika deer rutting ? Arne?

[sharky620ti]

Hi all, I usually photograph the proper wild red deer on Exmoor, and they are just starting to group up and bellow.
I have next week off work and quite fancy going after some sika deer at Arne, does anyone know if the rut has started there?

I'm kinda worried that the warmer weather thats due this week may put them off a bit?

[mbaldw]

Hi Sharky,

I'm afraid I can't say what the current situation is down at Arne (not been there for a while, although I have next week off too and was thinking about a trip down there). Here in the New Forest, however, things are still pretty quiet with the Sika - at the weekend there was a bit of groaning, but no whistling, screaming or fighting yet. As you say, the warming temperature expected this week probably won't help.

Cheers,
Marc.

[AdrianH]

The male Sika are certainly getting stroppy in Wareham Forest, we have found lots of scent marking spots and deep scrapes this week which delighted my terrier and one stag we saw was very much letting us know he was there and was going to stand his ground.

[sharky620ti]

thanks, i guess it might be worth a trip then

[mbaldw]

Should be - the Sika here have started in the last couple of days. Quite a bit of whistling and groaning, I'm told.

Cheers,
Marc.