Late August marks the end of the rut in the roe deer management calendar. Wounds and egos have started to heal, albeit in private. It is always shocking how fast roebucks disappear for weeks right after the rut. Weeks of gladiatorial battles and sexual conquests have taken a heavy toll on their bodies. These testosterone junkies must now slow down and go cold turkey for a few weeks. The hot weather has made this year’s rut memorable, although the proverbial cull bag does leave much to be desired.
For one of my final outings, possibly my last in fact, I opted for a lowland stalk on the outskirts of Newcastle — I’d been
