Deer Field Signs - signs of the rut

	Fallow Deer woodland rutting stand

Look out for signs left by rutting deer - roe deer rut in mid-summer, whilst the other species rut in autumn.

(For more information about the rut, check out these pages: Fallow Deer, Red Deer, Roe Deer, and Sika Deer).

Rutting stands
Rutting stands sometimes cover an extensive area and leave muddied earth fringed by over-hanging, frayed branches.

	Deer damage - frayed branches

Frayed branches
Deer rub their antlers against branches and saplings to remove velvet; and aggressively fray timber to mark the vicinity of rutting stands.

	Fallow Deer scrape

Scrapes and wallows
These are signs that rutting deer, or deer preparing for the rut, have used the area – the deer urinate in the wallows and liberally coat themselves with the resulting mud!

	Marks made by a Sika Deer stag

Marks made in tree trunks by Sika Deer
These markings indicate the presence of a Sika Deer stag, and are caused by scouring with the antlers. 

References:
Collins Field Guide to the Mammals of Britain and Europe: David Macdonald and Priscilla Barrett
Collins Guide to Animal Tracks and Signs: Preben Bang and Preben Dahlstrom
Sika deer: Rory Putman, British Deer Society
Fallow Deer: Jochen Langbein and Norma Chapman, British Deer Society
Roe Deer: John K. Fawcett, British Deer Society
Deer Watch: Richard Prior