Photographing Red Deer In Great Britain

Red deer (Cervus Elaphus) GB population 350,000
Height 110-120cm Weight unto 225kg Lifespan upto 25 years

“I love to photograph Red deer, they are such a majestic animal with a fascinating history.”

Red deer are the largest wild terrestrial mammal in Britain. The male antlers can grow up to a metre across and are a status symbol of strength, rarely used as weapons. They are a reddish-brown colour in the summer and start to look grey in the winter. The females are solitary when giving birth, but then gather into herds with their young and non breeding males.

I usually make two trips to Scotland each year to see them in the wild of the highlands but I am also lucky to live near three of the Great Parks in England that have Red deer roaming free which can make great practice for the wild trips and I can also choose a nice early morning to go (when it’s not raining).When you’re in Scotland you have no control over the wild weather that rolls in over the mountains.

Windsor is home for 500 deer, Richmond has 630 Red and Fallow deer and Bushy park in Hampton court has 320. It’s worth getting up early to avoid the crowds disturbing the deer, and the sunrise light is always the most dramatic. I prefer Windsor park, it’s nearer to me and there’s usually less members of the public trying to get close with their iPhones!

Female Red deer with a young calf crossing the road at Windsor

Two Rutting males battling at Richmond Park

Out of a population of 350,000, England has 12,000, Wales fewer than Richmond park at about 500, the rest are widely distributed in Scotland ( mainly on the hill land, with some on the islands ). In England there are populations in the New Forest, Cumbria, the Peak District, Hampshire & East Anglia.

Early Autumn ( Early September to late November ) the male deer will be competing for control of the herd, known as the rutt, male deer will bellow out a roar and lock antlers with any competing males. Mature stags ( 5-6 years old ) leave their groups to seek out hinds at traditional rutting sites. Stags will attempt to defend groups of 10-15 hinds from other competing males; engaging in roaring contests which sometimes escalates to parallel walking and finally locking antlers.

A Red Deer Stag at Bushy Park

Following the rut, stags and hinds typically segregate again and calves are usually born around May or June. The rut can make great and exciting photography but it can be very dangerous so keeping your distance and shooting from behind cover is advised! These are huge animals full of testosterone and the deer in the south of England tend to produce larger antlers than the those feeding on poor vegetation up north.

A Stag in front of Windsor Castle, Berkshire

Photographing the deer in Scotland up on the highlands is obviously more difficult, but it seems for more rewarding. It can feel like ” shooting fish in a barrel ” at the great parks. It’s almost too easy to find them. In Scotland they spend the nights on the lowlands to avoid the cold up on the mountains then will head back up the mountains mid morning. Like with most wildlife, early mornings are best. I usually go to Tyndrum near Loch Lomand in October and The Cairngorms in February, hoping for some snowy scenes and mountain hares. What I love about Scotland is the backdrops and landscapes you can work into the composition. You might not see as many deer or get as close, or the light might be poor, or it might be raining, but.. you’re in the Scottish Highlands with a magnificent animal and the whole experience just takes your breath away.

A male stag with the Scottish mountains behind

Red deer Hind with a young calf in Tyndrum, Scotland

A young stag with fur on his new antlers in the Cairngorms, Scotland

Another fun time to photograph the deer in the parks is around March. The deer will be losing their winter coats and the Jackdaws will steal fur for their nest. Its a beautiful sight of symbiosis in nature. The deer get their itchy fur removed ( and the ticks or fleas ) and the Jackdaws get some luxurious nest bedding! Win! Win!

Jackdaws on the back of a Red Deer Stag

Just like getting hair cut for the deer!

Windsor Great Park

Sony A1 & 200-600mm f6.3 | 1/500 | iso500

What’s in my kit bag?

I am Sony mirrorless shooter. All photos in this blog are my own and copyrighted.

Winner of the Sony Alpha European Spring competition for Animals.

Runner up of Close up photographer of the year 2019, 2020 & 2021.

Featured on BBC’s Winterwatch and in UK Newspapers.

Photographic contributor to the Wildlife trust and ambassador for Buglife.

This year (2022) I have just upgraded to the Sony A1 which I use with the 200-600mm lens and I also use the Sony A7riii with the 70-200 2.8 lens as my second camera for close ups or more scenic compositions.

I use a Gitzo Fluid gimbal on a Gitzo carbon tripod or I’ll wander shooting handheld.

As well as my cameras, spare batteries and lens cleaning cloths I will make sure I wear clothing that won’t frighten or scare the deer, camouflaged and earthy colours, timberland boots, gloves and warm layers.