Red Deer
The Red Deer is our largest land mammal and is one of our truly native species of Deer. These impressive animals are best seen during the rut, around mid October. Red Deer Stags have a majestic quality to them and when seen up close you know that you are in the presence of a powerful animal. Stags will chase off rivals during the rut. They will defend and protect their harem of hinds so that they have the right to mate with them when they come into season. The sound of the clash of antlers when two powerful stags lock together is unforgettable. This only happens when the stags are of very similar size, most encounters finish before it gets to this stage. First there will be some posturing and bellowing, if that doesn't work then they will do what is called a parallel walk to size each other up further, and if that doesn't make one of them back down then they will clash.
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