The Roar of the Rut

In autumn, parks and moorland where red deer live fill with a sound that's hard to believe comes from a deer: a deep, rolling roar, repeated again and again. This is the rut, the breeding season, and the stag in this photo is right in the middle of it.

Roaring as a measuring contest

A stag's roar is an honest signal. Its depth depends on the size of his body and vocal tract, and the rate he can keep roaring shows his stamina. Rival stags listen closely, and studies of wild red deer have found that stags often decide whether to escalate a contest based on roaring alone.

Walking before fighting

If roaring doesn't settle things, the next step is usually a parallel walk: two stags pacing side by side, sizing each other up. Only if neither backs down do antlers lock. Fights are risky, since injuries can be serious, so most encounters end well before that point.

Giving them space

The rut is spectacular to watch, but stags are full of adrenaline and can be dangerous. A long lens and plenty of distance, ideally 50 metres or more, keeps both you and the deer calm, and it's how you get natural behaviour like this rather than an animal reacting to you.