Red Deer Stag Bolving

Wild red deer stag bolving in the long grass. Peak District NP. The moorland grass is so long in places that even this gigantic stag was almost hidden from view, despite standing upright! If it wasn’t for those impressive antlers, I might not have spotted him at all!

Red Deer Stag Bolving – About Red Deer:

Red deer are the largest of our native mammals having migrated to Britain from Europe over 11,000 years ago. 

Due to vast scale deforestation and overhunting the red deer population was once confined to the Scottish Highlands and ‘the Deer Parks’ of England. In recent times the population has recovered considerably and without any natural predators to keep the population down, they have become so abundant they are considered pests in some regions.

October ’til early November is the best time of year to watch our British deer as they participate in the rut, with the stags engaging in fierce and often fatal battles to exert their right to mate with the hinds.

You can find more on Red Deer here.