I went back to NT Charlecote today, where the Fallow Deer rut is definitely kicking off. There was some sparring going on between the younger bucks, and quite a lot of stamping around and bellowing by some of the older ones, but I couldn’t see any signs that the does are yet in oestrous. When they’re ready to mate they become almost wantonly flirtatious, but at the moment they’re twitchy and anxious, and trying to stay together in their usual group with this year’s fawns and last year’s juveniles. The bucks, meanwhile, are trying to corral the does and chase the youngsters away, causing some distress to the fawns, who until now have had their mothers’ undivided attention and protection. It’s a tough time for them.
My second photo shows the almost inevitable conclusion to a joust: the loser retreats at speed, hotly pursued by the victor. In this case the pursued buck didn’t slow down until he reached the safety of a coppice – though if he had he’d have seen that the chaser had already given up and circled back round to the main herd, clearly more determined not to miss anything than he was keen to press his victory. I can’t say I blame him for keeping going though – with those antlers behind me, I wouldn’t have slowed down either. I did see one interesting variation on the winner/loser theme, in which a pair of sparring bucks attracted the malevolent attention of one of the big senior guys, who charged in, attacked the pair of them together, and put them both to flight.
The main image shows a younger buck who had separated a few does and youngsters from the main herd and was trying to keep them boxed together in a small area near the river. You can’t blame a boy for trying, but looking at the size of his antler rack I think it’s highly unlikely he’ll retain his little harem of does when the action really heats up: not only will every other buck in the park smell these females when they come into oestrous, meaning that he’ll have to fight to keep them, but the does themselves will be looking for the biggest, strongest males to father next year’s fawns, and I’m afraid this handsome chap isn’t yet big and ugly enough to pass muster. If he’s going to mate this year I think he’ll need both luck and speed. Still, I enjoyed watching his antics today, especially the prancing he was doing here – head high and all four hooves off the ground at once, like one of Santa’s reindeer on a Christmas card. Every time he bounced busily along like this through the long grass, the watchers across the river let out Ooohs and Aaaahs of appreciation, but I think it’s fair to say that the humans found it considerably more charming than the harem, who all fled for safety before he could reach them.
