The two commonest deer in the Highlands are the red deer and the roe deer, although some people would argue the sika deer are rapidly increasing. The problem with sika deer is that they freely hybridise with red deer and some observers say it will not be long before there are no pure red deer left in the north. We may have already reached that stage. All three of these deer were essentially woodland deer but a decrease in woodland and an increase in numbers means that the red deer has long forsaken the woodland. They are now mainly found on open moorland. Roe deer have, to a certain extent, done the same although there are still far more found in woodland than on the open hill. Sika deer are still mainly found in woodland although there are increasing signs that they are moving out to the moorland, especially where they are not disturbed.
Of all the annual cycles of these three deer the most outstanding and symbolic is probably the rut of the red deer in the Autumn. The stags will compete to get together their own harem which they will fight to retain. However, despite what popular TV programmes such as Autumwatch on the Isle of Rum portray, the much glamorised “fights to the death” are greatly exaggerated. In all the years I have stalked and watched red deer, including on the Isle of Rum, ! have never seen a serious fight when one stag has been harmed. They much prefer to size each other up and challenge each other with their famous roaring! Who could not be moved by stags roaring at each other from hills and glens during the rutting season?
In contrast, the current rutting season for the much smaller roe deer is a more modest affair with very few bucks being involved. However, it is just as fascinating particularly as it is not often seen by people. Often the only sign we have is of the rutting circle where roebuck will chase a doe round and round in tiny circles leaving marks on the vegetation to show where they have been. The buck will have set up a territory and enticed a doe into the area. Sometimes another buck will turn up and there will be some sparring and even a short fight. The roebuck may look small and the antlers insignificant when compared with the sika or red deer stags, but make no mistake as the roebuck is far more dangerous with the short sharp antlers and its dexterity. Interestingly, sometimes a roe doe will wander into the territory and the roebuck will not pay any attention. It is as if he is content with the one doe. However, with the resident roe doe it is a different matter and she will challenge any roe doe that comes into the territory and see it off. So, unlike the red deer, it is essentially a two deer rut for the roe deer. The rut is from late July until the middle of August, give or take a few days at either end. The kids are not born until the following May or June because of delayed implantation, more than four months after the rut. The doe will leave her kid, twins are frequent and even triplets not unknown, hidden until it can follow her at foot. Whilst it is hidden the doe will frequently come back to feed it and has a peculiar call to rouse it and the kid answers with an even more unusual bird like peeping call.
Tags: highland wildlife