My your a big boy!!

The call of the Wild.

The sunshine eventually made its way over the hills to the east and the mist that was blanketing the valley took on that erie orange glow, from within the mist I could hear the rattle of antlers as the large males tested the levels of testosterone in each other as they vied for the hinds.
Unfortunately the action was over before the mist cleared. And this big boy came out of the melee and just kept coming, and coming and I was back peddling at a rapid rate as he came up to the car before veering of and nonchalantly wondered in to the woods.

The one thing you do not argue with is a fourteen pointer high on male hormones!

This chap, the "Black Deer of the family" was barking at anything getting a bit close to his stand under the oak tree, and I was a bit close.

Now this Buck was far more interested in chasing a couple of hinds in and out of the bracken, He looked well good with his war bonnet on.

The decorating of antlers is some believe an out and out attempt to make their antlers look larger, or more probable is the fact that after giving the foliage a good thrashing as part of their territories.

Whilst the big boys battled it out the youngsters, being left out of the Rut, made sure they got some practice by copying Dad!

The Rut is continuing and on Saturday Attingham park have some organised walks to get a bit closer to the herd of Fallow there. Starting at 17:00, best time to see some action perhaps even in the rain.

Cheers

Paul