Berrea in Spain

#berrea #caza #ciervos #españa

"Songs that shake the forest"

At the beginning of autumn, at the end of September and beginning of October, a surprising natural spectacle takes place in Spain. Very characteristic calls begin to be heard at the break of dawn and even more so when the sun is about to set and the night is already well into the night.

These sounds are what give the event its name, as they are the bellows produced by the stags during the rutting season. "The bellowing

But before we get down to business, let's talk about our main character, the red deer, also known as the stag or European deer, is widespread in the northern half of the planet, from Europe and North America to parts of Asia. Its size is imposing, with a height that can exceed 2 metres and a weight of 200 kilos.

Undoubtedly, the most spectacular part of the male deer is its antlers, which are renewed every year. These new antlers have a kind of fluff, which the bucks rub against the trees to remove it before the rutting battles begin.

The older the stag gets, the bigger and more majestic its antlers become.


Now it's time for the rut. This fascinating season marks the time when the red deer begin their mating rituals. It is also an unmistakable sign that summer is over and autumn is beginning.

In Spain we can find large tracts of land where the deer, lords of the area, use to bellow and in this way announce both the females and other rival deer that are in the area.

The females are left waiting for two males to meet, for when they do, another event takes place as part of this natural spectacle, which has become a great attraction for lovers of the countryside: the epic battles in favour of the females.

When one buck meets another, they begin to bawl louder, and prepare to clash antlers in a fierce struggle for the female and for territory.

This fierce battle can last for hours.... until one of them gives up, and exhausted leaves the victor to collect his prize, copulating with the females, who have been waiting patiently until the best stallion has prevailed.

In fact, the females are undeterred during the fight. They want their offspring to have the best genetic material, so they wait until the strongest one wins the battle. Only then can the mating ritual begin.

Where can the rut be observed?

In Spain there are several places where thousands of nature lovers gather every year to watch this fascinating spectacle. Some of the most significant are the following:

Sierra de Cazorla. This area in the province of Jaén is the largest protected area in Spain, and a good place to hear and see the rut. The most recommended spot is around the Tranco de Beas reservoir, along which there is a route named after Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente.

Monfragüe, in Cáceres, is another privileged place to enjoy the rutting season. You can also see birds in the wild, such as vultures and imperial eagles, in a fabulous setting where the autumn colours are in full splendour.

The Cabañeros Park in Ciudad Real is another great place to enjoy the rutting of the deer. It is best to find a meadow and watch from a distance, as the animals prefer not to be disturbed.

Selva de Irati is a great place if you prefer to experience the rut in northern Spain. This area of Navarre also offers extraordinary scenery, well worth a visit.

For us, the Picos de Europa is one of the most spectacular places to witness this event, as the deer in the mountains tend to be larger than those in the south. They are also more elusive and more spread out in the mountains, so it requires skill and a lot of silence to witness the battles... an adventure we definitely plan to film.

There are many other places where herds of deer live in the wild or in semi-freedom. For example the Monte del Pardo in Madrid, the Doñana Park or the Sierra de Hornachuelos. And the list goes on and on.

Tips for enjoying the rutting season

If you want to experience this spectacle, here are some recommendations to enjoy it to the full:

Avoid crowds. Deer shy away from people, so the more people there are, the less chance you have of seeing them.

Look for a high, clear area to observe your surroundings. A pair of binoculars will get you further.

Be patient and don't make any noise. The hearing of these animals is very fine and at the slightest sound they will run away.

We hope you enjoy this time of the year and?

See you in the countryside!

Related content

Preparando la temporada de corzos
tuesday, 26 of march of 2024
Read article ->
BCN Outdoor, lo que buscas a tu alcance
tuesday, 26 of march of 2024
Read article ->
Mountain deer hunting
thursday, 21 of march of 2024
Read article ->
Get to know the European hunting fairs this spring
thursday, 14 of march of 2024
Read article ->
The best gifts for Father's Day
tuesday, 12 of march of 2024
Read article ->
What should you know before going hunting in Turkey?
tuesday, 05 of march of 2024
Read article ->
Learn to differentiate optics
tuesday, 27 of february of 2024
Read article ->
Where you can hunt with thermal and night
tuesday, 27 of february of 2024
Read article ->
The 5 essentials for a Successful Hunt
friday, 16 of february of 2024
Read article ->
What are the best dogs for hunting?
thursday, 25 of january of 2024
Read article ->
Spanish Montería: Tradition, regulations and best practices
thursday, 18 of january of 2024
Read article ->
Rapid Shooting Techniques: Adjust Your Weapon and Shoot Accurately | Aimpoint shooting course
wednesday, 03 of january of 2024
Read article ->
Sustainable Hunting: Protecting Biodiversity and Promoting Environmental Responsibility
monday, 16 of october of 2023
Read article ->
The Art of Spanish Hunting: Strategy, Emotion and Conservation
wednesday, 04 of october of 2023
Read article ->
Hunting Techniques for October: Stalking Deer in the Rutting Season
monday, 02 of october of 2023
Read article ->
Boc Balear hunting in Mallorca: Burris Veracity HP Scope and the Sako Rifle
friday, 22 of september of 2023
Read article ->
Successful Hunting: Sako Rifle and Burris Scope, the Perfect Combination
friday, 15 of september of 2023
Read article ->
Alpen, by Marta López: Quality for demanding hunters
thursday, 08 of june of 2023
Read article ->
Chapuis, French avant-garde crafts
tuesday, 30 of may of 2023
Read article ->
Bestard: quality, tradition and technology
monday, 29 of may of 2023
Read article ->
Young Wild Hunters & Beretta-Chapuis
wednesday, 24 of may of 2023
Read article ->
Arruí, an introduced species
wednesday, 24 of may of 2023
Read article ->
Swedteam, hunting clothes for all modalities
wednesday, 17 of may of 2023
Read article ->
Chapuis Rols Rifle
wednesday, 17 of may of 2023
Read article ->
The nose worm in roe deer
monday, 15 of may of 2023
Read article ->
Disproving arguments against hunting
wednesday, 10 of may of 2023
Read article ->
Roe deer antlers: which trophy would you hunt?
wednesday, 03 of may of 2023
Read article ->
The roe deer: species and subspecies
wednesday, 26 of april of 2023
Read article ->
Why is hunting necessary?
thursday, 20 of april of 2023
Read article ->
The danger of invasive species
thursday, 30 of march of 2023
Read article ->
🚨WINNERS OF THE MEGA GIVEAWAY🚨
monday, 20 of march of 2023
Read article ->
Iberian lynx, an advance in conservation
thursday, 16 of march of 2023
Read article ->
the hunting women
tuesday, 07 of march of 2023
Read article ->
Jorge Manzanares, art and hunting
wednesday, 22 of february of 2023
Read article ->
Five hunting modalities that perhaps you did not know
wednesday, 22 of february of 2023
Read article ->
High mountain stalks
tuesday, 14 of february of 2023
Read article ->
End of a great season
thursday, 09 of february of 2023
Read article ->
The barking of the rehala
thursday, 09 of february of 2023
Read article ->
Binoculars, an essential in hunting
thursday, 09 of february of 2023
Read article ->
discover stability
thursday, 09 of february of 2023
Read article ->
The easiest way to get your hunting license
thursday, 09 of february of 2023
Read article ->
5 curiosities of the wildest Namibia
tuesday, 17 of january of 2023
Read article ->
Wild Namibia
monday, 09 of january of 2023
Read article ->
On the hunt for "the lady of the forest".
friday, 16 of december of 2022
Read article ->
The law of the three layers
wednesday, 14 of december of 2022
Read article ->
10 products to give this Christmas
tuesday, 13 of december of 2022
Read article ->
Wild footprints and traces
thursday, 01 of december of 2022
Read article ->
Team Building and female management in Encinarejo
tuesday, 29 of november of 2022
Read article ->
A new fear among hunters and ranchers
friday, 25 of november of 2022
Read article ->
Our online hunting shop
wednesday, 23 of november of 2022
Read article ->