Species - Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)
Location - Martindale, Lake District, Cumbria
Grid Ref - NY 42593 16204
Red Deer are the UK’s largest deer and can be found mainly in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland but also in the Lake District, Exmoor, the New Forest and Thetford Forest.
Although I regularly see them on trips to Scotland, one of the best places for me to see them is in Martindale in the Lake District, which hosts a herd of pure blood Red Deer. Between late September and early November, each year the male stags are full of testosterone, they are quite territorial and will defend their hinds against other stags. This is known as ‘The Rut’, and is one of natures great events not to be missed. I took Mrs Parkinson for a day out here a few years ago and as we walked into Martindale we could hear the stags roaring across the valley. Mrs Parkinson commented that it sounded like a scene from Jurassic Park.
Another location that is a bit closer to me is at Harewood House estate just North of Leeds. The estate has a herd of Red Deer, the stags here are as equally impressive as their wild counterparts, but with just a different back drop. On my last visit to Harewood Estate a large roaring stag stopped me from proceeding down a public right of way, it was clearly not going to give ground and I had to retreat back the way I came.
For anyone that wants to witness the rut, the stags are nearly a quarter of a ton of pure muscle and testosterone, they can cause serious injuries to humans, so be careful, keep your distance and follow these simple rules.
A good time to watch is early morning and dusk as this is when the deer are most active.
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
Watch quietly from a safe distance.
Listen out for the bellowing and whistling of dominant stags.
Look out for “buck rubs” on trees.
