The Red Deer rut is about to start and to get back into the swing of things, I flick through my images from last year. So many unforgettable moments….going through my pictures one by one allows me to relive all those magical encounters:
26th September: My first time back in the area for a while, slowly I follow the path leading deeper into the woods. I watch my every step, the slightest noise, the slightest twig snapping underneath my foot, the slightest sound from a crunching or rustling leaf can alert the entire forest and drive its inhabitants away from me. The path follows the edge of an empty field. When I get to the other side I stop dead in my tracks. A huge stag has suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the very spot that I looked at less than a minute ago. Their incredible capacity to move about silently and with so much ease never ceases to amaze me. Humans have enough trouble walking quietly on 2 legs, yet a stag has 4 and on top of that he is carrying huge cumbersome antlers on his head!
His head bent back, he roars. I savour the moment, it is the first time I am that close to a roaring stag. Beginners luck?
After such an encouraging result I am back in the same field the following evening. This time I am better prepared, I arrive well before the time I believe the stag will make his appearance, giving me sufficient time to hide in the shrubs along the edge. I am in luck, not long after I am all set he is back. Once again I am able to observe his impressive displays and distinctive powerful roar. When I can finally extract myself from my hiding place it is almost dark. I had been waiting for him to leave before getting up. Now I can hear him roar further away, on the other side of the path. In the dark his call is even more awe-inspiring. I can’t imagine anybody not being moved by such a voice…
28th September: My first encounter today is not with a stag, but a photographer friend. I hardly recognised him in his camouflage gear! We continue together, we can hear different voices roaring all around us. Despite this the animals don’t seem inclined to show themselves today and after a couple of hours we start walking back without having pressed the shutter-release once. Suddenly a big, round, rusty brown rock starts to move about 50 metres further ahead. A huge stag! He has seen us but doesn’t seem to have recognised us as humans. For a minute or two we see him move behind the trees, just enough time to get a couple of shots and he ambles away.
A little further along the path we come across a young hind.
Two days later I am lucky enough to be able to observe another stag in a different field, a beautiful 12 point individual in the middle of his harem. A great moment of observation, but unfortunately less so for decent pictures on this gray day without light.
5th October: The fog is so thick this morning that you could cut it with a knife and to be honest I have little hope of seeing much under the circumstances. But without having tried I will never know, and I decide to give it a go anyway. Given the lack of light I prefer to stay in the open this morning, well hidden at the edge of a field I sit down and wait. As usual things happen just as I decide to call it a day, 3 young stags start chasing each other around the field.
9th October: At last a sunny day, I can’t wait to get back into the woods. One needs to make the most of the good light while it lasts, today I’ll allow enough time for a longer walk. But after 1,5 hours I still haven’t found a single animal. I am just considering giving up for the day, when suddenly I hear branches breaking on the slope above the path. Two stags chasing one another, how lucky is that! A crashing noise, this time the sound comes from the 2 sets of antlers banging against one another. The battle between the two stags is taking place on the slope just above, but unfortunately I don’t see much of it, the trees are in the way and I daren’t move. I wouldn’t want to put an early end to their show! But I am worrying about nothing, the two are so focussed on their battle that they have thrown all caution to the wind. I am cursing the branches and leaves that stop my camera from getting focus, in the end I give up trying to get a sharp image, I decide to just enjoy the show. They have their antlers interlocked, each stag is trying to push the other one backwards, but on a steep slope the one with his back facing downwards is naturally at a disadvantage. They are shifting backwards and forwards, up and down and for a moment I believe they’ll end up right at my feet, but a big trunk holds them back at the last moment. Finally one of them gives up and disappears deeper into the forest. The proud winner starts roaring his victory just meters away from me.
Suddenly he looks in my direction. I am behind a tangle of branches, but the lense sticks out beyond. Curious and visibly intrigued by my presence he shifts his head from one side to the other struggling to identify me. In the end I see him amble away inbetween the trees, he has more important things to do!
Another day, another encounter. Sat against a tree I see him arrive with his harem in tow. The glean a few leaves whilst he keeps an eager eye on the surroundings.
A little further I come across a very young stag with other occupations….
13th October: An unforgettable encounter with a 14 point stag that lasted almost an hour. In order not to give away my presence I daren’t move and have to make do with the branches and twigs that unfortunately add distracting elements to my composition. I feel privileged to be able to spend time so close to this charismatic animal and I savour every minute, knowing that the end of the rut is close. Soon the deer will become as secretive and hard to find as they were before the mating season….
I head back into the forest one last time, today is the 20th October and the rut has come to an end. From time to time I can hear the odd roar from far away, otherwise everything is silent again. It will be a whole year before the forest will once again ring with their deep powerful voices….
