Quantock Hills Blog

Stuck in a Rut

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Andy Harris

Posted by Andy Harris on 14 October 2010

Stuck in a Rut With a keen south easterly wind and the occasional rattle call of Mistle Thrushes from amongst the hawthorns, I stood waiting for daybreak but knew I wasn’t alone.

From within the wooded combes and the surrounding hill tops I could hear the sound of Red Deer Stags announcing to all that the rut is truly underway.

Just as the Cuckoo signifies spring has sprung the roaring stags, for me, symbolises everything that’s great about autumn.

Over the next few mornings and evenings I’ll be keeping an eye on the rut and with colleagues from the AONB Service and Forestry Commission leading a few guided walks (all fully booked).

If you’re keen to view the rut then getting out early morning or late evening is your best chance to see it and for some helpful hints and tips on viewing deer at this time of year visit the BBC Autumnwatch and British Deer Society websites which provide useful guidance.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/uk/

http://www.bds.org.uk/

Comments in chronological order (Total 3 comments)

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  • No avatar available
    Sharki

    14 Oct 10

    Missing the Quantocks rut for the first time in 5 years.
    Last year i was sort of caught up in the middle of a little battle, in all the excitement i had know where to hide, as a wannabe tried to slip by the battling duo. The stag walked right towards me, preoccupied by the fight and interested on what the hinds where doing, he only caught a whiff of me from a few metres away and stopped and stared for a moment then ran off. A bellow to my left made me realise i was infact in the middle of a 4 stag battle of power.

    Perhaps i risked it a little last year by getting so close. No reds seen up in Tweed valley yet, heard a few roe and think i saw my fist ever sika…

  • No avatar available
    Bob Small

    14 Oct 10

    Hi Andy - I was one of the photographers who came out with you last year (if you recall we saw very little!), arranged by Ian…. been up a couple of times morning/evening so far this past week but very little happening - any chance you can keep us up to date (here/Facebook) on action over the next few days?

  • No avatar available
    Andy Harris

    20 Oct 10

    As mentioned in my blog above (“Deer Diary”) the rut is a little unpredictable this year (a bit like last year) but it is still worth getting out there and having a go bearing in mind that it will only last another few days, possibly a week / ten days at the most.

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