The deer rut in the pyrennes
The first time I heard the rut of the deer in the Pyrenees, I was captivated. The roars echoed through the valleys and could be heard everywhere. It was a reminder that there is far more wildlife in the forests and mountains than meets the eye.
Since that day, I have devoted myself to studying a specific corner of the Pyrenees, observing the deer’s movements during the day. I eagerly await the arrival of September, when the bellowing begins anew.
Each year, I return to my beloved corner of the Pyrenees to witness one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles. I blend in with my surroundings and wait for the spectacle of nature.
When the afternoon sun starts to fall, the first male deer appear.
In the distance, I observe some groups of females and young males.
As I sneakily make my way down to the spot where I will camouflage myself, I come across a huge male deep in the forest. Thanks to a small bush, I am able to hide and photograph the deer without disturbing him.
As the sun dips below the horizon, the air cools, and the deer begin to vocalize. Their mournful calls resound through the peaks of the Pyrenees.
When the largest male in the area appears just a few meters away from me, my heart races. I have to stay still so that he doesn’t see me. I don’t want to interfere with them. Luckily, he doesn’t spot me, and I am able to photograph him for several minutes.
The rugged terrain of the Pyrenees provides the perfect backdrop for observing the deer’s rut season.
It starts to get warm, and the females gather to move to higher elevations.
At any moment, the deer will appear on stage. One must be patient and very stealthy.
In the forests where the deer lives, there is much more wildlife. Red foxes, wild boars, chamois, badgers and a wide variety of birds.
The roar of the deer is different depending on whether they already have a harem of females or not.
During the bellowing of the deer, male pursuits of females are common.
Also, there are usually some fights between males.
The rut of the deer in the Pyrenees allows playing with silhouettes, the males are constantly moving between different valleys.
It has not dawned yet and a huge male emerges from the forest. The temperature is so low that I can see the deer’s breath visibly condensing in the air.
From the top of the hills a deer survey the territory.
Silhouettes against the light offer great photographic opportunities.
Deers easily camouflage themselves among the tall bushes, although many times their antlers give them away.
From afar, I watch as two young deer engage in a head-butting match. It seems that this season is not their time to assert dominance.
One of the peculiarities of the Iberian deer is that it is the only deer in the world that when bellowing, sticks out its tongue.
With dusk, the silhouettes start to blur. But the bellowing does not stop. It will continue to echo day and night for several days.