Posted by Elliott Neep on October 13, 2007 at 6:29 AM
Hi Folks,
If anyone is planning to go to Richmond I would suggest you get there soon. Spent 3 days there last week and the rut has well and truly started. Saw plenty of hind chasing, bracken thrashing, roaring, and even the occasional ruck. There are several stags with large harems all over the park.
The largest harem (over 30 hinds) is on the main meadow area near Sheen Gate. As a consequence there are about 6 large stags competing there - although IMHO its rubbish for photographs as the grass is short and there are cars and people in all directions.
Posted by szekiat chan on October 13, 2007 at 1:02 PM
yeah, was there this morning.... still not much action really, but its definitely starting. had my first set of XXX deer.......
Posted by Elliott Neep on October 14, 2007 at 6:08 AM
Find it odd that there wasn't much action. It was kicking off all over the park during the week. I try and find one large stag with a hinds (pref 6 or more) and then sit with them the whole day. Other stags will run in, plus you are always on hand for the hind chase and the mating. Don't bother traipsing all over the park to find action, you will miss most of it.
Posted by Andrew Forsyth on October 14, 2007 at 10:29 AM
Reasonable action there this morning, but not the best of light.
What's the interpretation of the foot and mouth restrictions, specifically the police notices advising of the requirement to stay on the footpaths? I stuck to the gravel footpaths close to the roads but every other snapper that I saw today was wandering around freely. I asked a (v pleasant) policeman about the footpath issue but he was non the wiser himself!
Has anyone sought clarification on this?
A
Posted by Elliott Neep on October 14, 2007 at 11:10 AM
Yes, I asked two sets of patrol officers (regular met police) and they weren't even aware of the restrictions. I had been a couple of times in the week before the small green notices appeared. They say "stick to the paths and tracks and don't approach the deer". This seems to be very similar to the normal advice posters around the park because of the Rut.
Police officers patrol Richmond park and regularly saw me standing within 30 metres of the deer. I was on a very small track, just off a main path. They just smiled and drove on as did the Royal Parks rangers.
My interpretation is the same as its always been at Richmond during the rut - stick to the paths and keep your distance. It can be very unnerving surprising a stag which is slumbering in the bracken! You shouldn't need to get that close anyway.
The deer are relaxed enough for you to walk by, but if you stop they get nervy and the stag will roar at you and may even make a mock charge. If you are standing around with a view to photography, keep your distance and sit with your back against a tree. The more you blend in, the less stress you put on the stags - which are extremely pumped at the mo.
Also, use your common sense. If you live in, near, or have been through the F&M observation zone or restricted areas then DO NOT visit the park.
Discussion
4 repliesIf anyone is planning to go to Richmond I would suggest you get there soon. Spent 3 days there last week and the rut has well and truly started. Saw plenty of hind chasing, bracken thrashing, roaring, and even the occasional ruck. There are several stags with large harems all over the park.
The largest harem (over 30 hinds) is on the main meadow area near Sheen Gate. As a consequence there are about 6 large stags competing there - although IMHO its rubbish for photographs as the grass is short and there are cars and people in all directions.
What's the interpretation of the foot and mouth restrictions, specifically the police notices advising of the requirement to stay on the footpaths? I stuck to the gravel footpaths close to the roads but every other snapper that I saw today was wandering around freely. I asked a (v pleasant) policeman about the footpath issue but he was non the wiser himself!
Has anyone sought clarification on this?
A
Police officers patrol Richmond park and regularly saw me standing within 30 metres of the deer. I was on a very small track, just off a main path. They just smiled and drove on as did the Royal Parks rangers.
My interpretation is the same as its always been at Richmond during the rut - stick to the paths and keep your distance. It can be very unnerving surprising a stag which is slumbering in the bracken! You shouldn't need to get that close anyway.
The deer are relaxed enough for you to walk by, but if you stop they get nervy and the stag will roar at you and may even make a mock charge. If you are standing around with a view to photography, keep your distance and sit with your back against a tree. The more you blend in, the less stress you put on the stags - which are extremely pumped at the mo.
Also, use your common sense. If you live in, near, or have been through the F&M observation zone or restricted areas then DO NOT visit the park.