Donal Hickey: Stags now in all their glory

It’s the time of year when the old, romantic image of the stag in the glen, standing on a rocky outcrop and commanding all he surveys, becomes real.

However, you usually hear before you see. One of the early sounds of autumn in places such as Killarney National Park is the primal roar of red deer stags as the annual October rut, or mating season, gets underway. Depending on wind direction, the sound can travel for kilometres.

This is the best time of the year for deer-watching. Some animals in the large local herd can be seen in their pomp, just a few minute’s walk from the centre of Killarney town. Mature stags are now at their peak and present a magnificent sight as they break away from groups, trotting proudly with the head and neck pushed forward, stopping now and then to roar, with the wild sound echoing through the hills.

Stags are in fighting mood as they ward off rivals in the competition for hinds. The biggest and strongest win as they gather hinds which the victor attempts to hold for himself alone. Fights are common; the clash of antlers can sometimes be heard, injuries are inflicted but deaths are rare.

This is also a time when people need to be careful when close to aggressive, male deer.

In his definitive book, The Wild Red Deer of Killarney, Sean Ryan says none is to be trusted during the rut.

Not only is he immensely strong and possessed of sharp, pointed weapons, but his normal inclination to flee is largely suppressed by his urgency for the hinds and his willingness to fight,’’ Ryan writes.

Deer are now more mobile, travelling the hills and lowlands and crossing roads. People walking in the park tell us of being startled by powerful stags with multiple-pointer antlers running across their path.

The rut has become an attraction, with locals and visitors to Killarney coming out in large numbers to see for themselves, or take part in organised deer walks. Knockreer, accessed through the entrance gate to the park near St Mary’s Cathedral, and a field opposite the entrance to Muckross House, offer good viewing opportunities.

Another activity by stags is ‘threshing’ where they can attack small trees, gorse and clumps of vegetation, moving their antlers from side to side, or back and forth, sometimes as vigorously as if engaged in fights. Clumps of vegetation can be stuck on the antlers as they raise their heads.

The rut is now fully on and most stags will have their business done by the end of October, ensuring that the species continues for another generation. However, all the activity, roaring and fighting takes its toll and many will be exhausted.