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Autumn on Jura – Red Deer Rut

thumb-13 Point Cromie StagWhen the days get shorter and the temperatures sink, and when autumn paints the bracken on the hills brown, the red deer rut starts. The rut is a period when the biggest and strongest male (stag) rounds up a group of females (hinds) for mating. Of course every other male deer wants to do the same, but there’s only so many females to go around. In order to maintain control over a group of females the stag must constantly drive away rivals. The stag announces his superiority over other males by constantly bellowing out an echoing roar and in the meanwhile contenders need to be chased off which causes occasional fights.

On an island like Jura, with almost 7,000 deer, the rutting deer can’t be missed, both by vision and sound. On Jura you can see almost anywhere small groups of deer which usually consist of a stag and a couple of hinds. The mating season for the red deer starts late September and ends at the end of October which makes this one of the best periods to visit the island. Friends of mine were on Jura last week and they sent me a lot of beautiful images of the landscape and the impressive stags and hinds which you can find below.

View from Three arches bridge
View from Three arches bridge
13 Pointer stag and hinds
13 Pointer stag and hinds
Tarbert
Tarbert
Beinn Shiantaidh
Beinn Shiantaidh
Hind and Calf
Hind and Calf
Hind Calf and Stag
Hind Calf and Stag
Roaring Stag
Roaring Stag
Lagg
Lagg
Loch and t-Siob
Loch an t-Siob

Images courtesy Teresa Morris of Islay Wildscapes

Leave a comment

    1. Thanks Gavin, the pictures were taken by Teresa Morris from Islay Wildscapes. She is a very good photographer and knows exactly where to go to get the best shots. It’s like being on Jura when I look at them!

  1. Nice blog and lovely pictures – well done!

    The shot labelled ‘Ardlussa’ is actually Tarbert.

    Cheers

    Dave

    1. Thanks Dave, much appreciated. I will pass it on to Teresa.
      And I will change the name too, thanks 🙂