Fallow deer

Fallow deer

While walking in the autumn woodlands listen out for the fallow deer buck's disctinctive rutting call of barking coughs, grunts and growls. The sounds add to the atmosphere of the already iconic mating ritual. For Autumnwatch 2008, Simon King followed the lek at Petworth House in West Sussex.

View a slideshow of all your fantastic fallow deer pictures in the Flickr group.

Watch all the best fallow deer action from the shows.

Species information

The docile fallow is our most widespread deer. It is commonly found herding in our parklands. Wild herds can still be seen in the woodlands of south and east England.

It's smaller than the red deer with beautiful orange-brown to fawn coloured coat which is covered with white spots. Look out for a long black and white tail, large Adam's apple and the impressive broad-bladed antlers. Like other deer, the antlers are covered in a hairy skin called velvet. This is shed before the mating season when rival bucks fight for the does.

Although not truly native, it is naturalised, having been re-introduced, probably by the Normans, as an ornamental species after becoming extinct following the last ice age.

Tradition surrounds our fallow deer. It is a symbol on many coats of arms and was much favoured by kings, queens and medieval huntsman as sport in the royal parks and woodlands.

How to help

Fallow deer are common throughout the British Isles, usually to be found in woodlands and parklands where herds can cause significant damage by feeding on buds and leaves and also striping bark from trees. Like all deer, they are managed. So it's best to leave it to the experts.

October 2008

Simon King introduces us to the fallow deer rut, where the bucks fight and the females choose who to mate with. But it is not all that it seems!

Grunts per second

Simon King introduces us to a super buck and why he deserves this title. The secret is in the grunt, our 'super' buck manages one grunt a second!

Grunting – the verdict

Analysis of the grunting shows us what makes Barry the white buck a 'super' buck. Is this the secret to getting all the girls?

Barry the white 'super' buck

Catch up with Barry. Has he really lost his crown?