Fallow Deer

Typically found in mixed woodland edges and open parkland, these deer graze and browse at ground level, often moving between dense cover and grassy clearings; during the day they tend to rest in thicket margins, becoming most active from dusk through the early morning hours. Watch for the distinctive palmate antlers of mature males and listen in autumn for the deep, belching grunts of rutting bucks, which carry surprisingly far through woodland. The rut, generally running through October into November, offers the best viewing opportunities as males become bolder and more conspicuous in daylight; arrive at a woodland clearing at first light with the wind in your face for the strongest chance of an extended sighting.