Red Deer Rut - Karen Hartnell

I’m lucky to have a deer farm nearby where in late September and into October I get to experience the sights and sounds of the Red Deer Rut.

The stags’ bellows echo around the village, as each male strives to become the best to gain the hinds affections.

During the rut I went to photograph some of the action and got lucky when a stag walked past the fence a few feet away and laid down. He was exhausted.

I cannot begin to tell you how much the stag smelled at that close range. They spray themselves with their own urine during the rut. Apparently, it is supposed to attract the females. It was very pungent and not very attractive to a human nose!

Here are a couple of photos I took of the magnificent Stags.

*Stag digs at the ground with antlers and hoof*

*Red Deer Stag Standing Proud, a painting I completed in 2018*

© Karen Hartnell