Today, red deer continue to thunder through our culture, says wildlife writer, Adele Brand. Their Middle English name of ‘hart’ is on uncounted pub signs, while the art world – from famous paintings to garden statues – is enthralled by their likeness.
Tourists and wildlife watchers, too, are drawn to red deer in both our wildest landscapes and London deer parks.
What do they look like?
Some may wonder if they are observing a fallow or sika deer instead, but the red’s plain coat and buff-coloured rump are reliable markers.
The best time to see red deer is during the autumn rut (September to November), when stags are most active and can often be seen battling for dominance.
What do they sound like?
Red deer are known for their distinctive vocalisations, which can vary depending on the situation. Some common sounds include:
- Roaring: During the rutting season, stags will roar loudly to attract females and challenge other stags. This sound is deep, resonant, and can be heard from a distance.
- Grunting: Both stags and hinds females may grunt as a form of communication or alarm. This sound is shorter and less intense than a roar.
- Barking: A rapid series of short barks can be used as a warning or threat display.
- Snorting: A snorting sound is often made when a deer is startled or feels threatened.
When do red deer rut?
A king roars with a droning bellow erupting from depths of his lungs, his antlers wearing a banner of torn bracken. The red deer rut – that theatre of raw adrenaline – rips open autumn’s golden glow with hooves crushing grass and breath condensing in the chilled dawn light.
An eagerness, a seriousness consumes these mighty deer, from the Cairngorms to Richmond Park, from the East Anglian coast to the glorious vistas of Exmoor. Now is the moment when all the blood and nutrients that has been pumped into developing antlers and strong necks is put to the test. His purpose in the autumn is to guard his hinds, and when posture and roaring are insufficient, he will fight.
It should be said, however, that this deer’s size and temperament do require a little caution, especially during the rut. Good deer-watching etiquette involves remaining a polite distance and keeping dogs on leads.
Where to see red deer in Scotland
Red deer call many parts of Scotland home, particularly in the Highlands. Here are some of the best places to see them:
- Cairngorms National Park: This park is home to a significant population of red deer. The Glenlivet Estate is especially noted for deer watching.
- Isle of Skye: The rugged terrain of Skye provides a natural habitat for red deer.
- Glencoe: Known for its stunning scenery, Glencoe is also a prime location to see red deer.
- Highland Perthshire: Areas such as Ben Lawers Natural Reserve, Glen Lyon, and Tay Forest Park are known for frequent sightings of red deer, particularly during the winter months when they move to lower grounds.
- Galloway Forest Park: This park features a dedicated Red Deer Range with a viewing hide, allowing visitors to observe these majestic animals closely.
Where to see red deer in the rest of the UK
England:
- Richmond Park, London
- Exmoor National Park, Somerset and Devon
- The New Forest, Hampshire
- Lake District, Cumbria
Wales:
- Margam Country Park, South Wales
- Brecon Beacons National Park
Northern Ireland
- Glenariff Forest Park, County Antrim
Tips for Spotting Red Deer
Be Patient and Quiet: Red deer are shy animals. It may take time to spot them, so patience is essential. Keeping noise to a minimum will help prevent scaring them away.
Use Binoculars: Since red deer blend well with their surroundings, binoculars can enhance your chances of spotting them from a distance
What do red deer eat?
The diet of red deer can change significantly with the seasons. They tend to consume more browse (leaves and shoots from trees) in the spring and summer, while relying more on grasses and shrubs in the autumn and winter.
Their feeding habits are influenced by environmental conditions and the nutritional quality of available forage.
What is a female red deer called?
A female red deer is called a hind. In addition to "hind," the term doe can also be used to refer to female deer in general. Male red deer are referred to as stags or harts
When do red deer shed their antlers?
Antlers are, on the face of it, an extraordinary concept, akin to us growing an extra arm each year before discarding it like old clothes. A drop in testosterone in the spring is thought to trigger the antlers’ fall.
Rich in calcium and phosphorus, deer readily gnaw these erstwhile parts of their skeleton, but other users also eye them.
Humans, not least; our Palaeolithic ancestors manufactured spears out of red deer antlers, and curious skull-and-antler head dresses have been unearthed at Yorkshire’s 9,000 year old archaeology hotspot of Star Carr.
When do red deer give birth?
Following an approximate eight-month gestation period for the hinds, red deer typically give birth between mid-May and mid-June.
Red deer are born with soft hooves and wobbly legs, but even at conception their futures can be guessed; dominant hinds are more likely to produce male offspring, for stags need all the genetic boosts going if they are to outcompete their rivals.
How much do red deer weigh?
The largest deer species in the UK, they weigh about the same as a King Charles spaniel at birth, a stag can eventually sport over 200kg of lordly yet lithe mass.
Want to find out more?
Our experts have a complied a range of guides about deer, including British deer guide, fallow deer and roe deer, as well as places to see the autumn deer rut and the most endangered species in Britain.
They also explore deer culling in Britain: what’s the problem and why are deer culled? and how to identify deer antlers
