The Rut!

TelePaul

I guess it'll be next weekend or the weekend after, but the rutting season will soon be upon us! For those of you who don't know, the rutt is when deer are at their most active; it's mating season as the white-tail deer wish to have their fawns born in spring where vegetation is plentfiul.

The Stags have grown antlers and will challenge other males for mating rights. Generally you see alot of head-butting and rubbing of antlers off trees, bellowing and generally grandstanding within the herd. They're generally less cautious than usual at this time.

Deer are at their most active at sunrise and sunset - best time for light too, so I think if you can get out to the country over the next few weeks it might be worth spending some time setting up and waiting for a few good shots.

You can generally approach deer quite closely if you move downwind and wear dull clothing - though they're colourblind, they will see the sun catching off bright clothing. If they get frightened off you can sit tight for a couple of hours; they'll usually wander on back to where they were grazing.

sineadw

They're noisy Ba$tards when they're at it too..

Thanks for the heads up though. Should be in country in the next few weeks.

TelePaul

sineadw wrote:

They're noisy Ba$tards when they're at it too..

Thanks for the heads up though. Should be in country in the next few weeks.

It'd be nice to have a list of deer hotspots. I like your sig photos btw.

Alun

For those around Dublin, there's loads of them to be seen around Glendalough, if you go up past the upper lake and up the zig-zag miner's track to the wooden bridge over the Glenealo valley at the top of the valley. They generally congregate on the sides of Camaderry up towards Turlough Hill or on the other side of the valley on the sides of the Lugduffs. If the weather's bad they can also be seen much lower down just past the old derelict miners' village before you get to the track.

soccerc

TelePaul wrote:

It'd be nice to have a list of deer hotspots. I like your sig photos btw.

You can't beat the Phoenix Park, behind St Mary's Hospital is a good spot with some long grass to creep up on the rutters!

AnCatDubh

TelePaul wrote:

The Stags have grown antlers and will challenge other males for mating rights. Generally you see alot of head-butting and rubbing of antlers off trees, bellowing and generally grandstanding within the herd. They're generally less cautious than usual at this time.

Hey what's the big deal - Temple Bar on a Friday night anytime of year ??????

Apologies, i know its not very helpful to the topic

TelePaul

Yes Glendalough is good, but I don't know how close you can get to them around the spinc. I like Lough Dan, they move in a big herd there.

Alun

TelePaul wrote:

Yes Glendalough is good, but I don't know how close you can get to them around the spinc. I like Lough Dan, they move in a big herd there.

I was taking about much further up the valley than the Spink, walk right up along the side of the Glenealo river until it levels off at the top. Then either up on the left (Lugduffs) or right (Camaderry, Turlough Hill) of the valley.

You're right though, I wouldn't like to say how close you could get to them there, since it's fairly open country. Maybe Phoenix Park is the best option for that as someone else pointed out!

Calina

If you are in Cork, Doneraile Park is an option.

TelePaul

Alun wrote:

I was taking about much further up the valley than the Spink, walk right up along the side of the Glenealo river until it levels off at the top. Then either up on the left (Lugduffs) or right (Camaderry, Turlough Hill) of the valley.

You're right though, I wouldn't like to say how close you could get to them there, since it's fairly open country. Maybe Phoenix Park is the best option for that as someone else pointed out!

I definetely think Lough Dan even though they're on private land and stuff. I dunno, a good few options there.

sheesh

Killarney national park go up to the torc waterfall car park follow the kerry way (the butter road) Seen deer there before.
Seen them around killarney town park as well when I was orienteering A few years ago.

Eirebear

For anyone up around Donegal way youll see a lot of them between Glenties all the way around the coastline as far as Glenveagh National Park.
These guys spent ages in and around our garden last year, caused a lot of trouble too...