The deer rut in Spain: an autumn tour

Spring is the season of love for humans. In one species of the animal world, the deer, the blood changes after summer. Between September and October, when the first rains arrive, the rutting begins in Spain and the males fill the forests with sounds and fights.A deer attentive to rivals © Roger Baulenas

This spectacle of nature owes its name to the bellows that males make to attract females and deter other rival males during the mating season. It is a very characteristic sound so it is very easy to distinguish.

Every year, the rut seduces a greater number of tourists and lovers of ecotourism activities. If you also want to contemplate it, you have at your disposal twelve natural spaces that during the fall become the territory of this fight for the perpetuation of the species.

Additionally, in the following link you can find some of the observation and listening activities for the rut in Spain in Nattule.

We tell you which ones:

1. Los Alcornocales Natural Park, the last Andalusian jungle

Located in the south of Cádiz, embraced by the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, is one of the most unique ecosystems in Spanish geography. With more than 167,000 hectares, the Los Alcornocales Natural Park is home to extensive forests of cork oaks, wild olive trees, oaks and gall oaks covered in a thick undergrowth of heather, lichens and ferns.

They are places like taken from other latitudes. Due to the proximity of the sea and the relief of these areas, fog is a very frequent phenomenon that adds beauty. Furthermore, if you love exercise, the temperature is ideal to enjoy a mountain bike ride through this Natural Park of Cádiz.

The jungles of Los Alcornocales © Raphael

To witness the natural spectacle of the rut you must visit the area of La Sauceda and Pico del Aljibe. From the C-3331 road in Cortes de la Frontera you can access the path that takes you to the cabins of La Sauceda, an enclave that houses some forests classified as Singular Groves of Andalusia and where it is possible to spend the night.

As you ascend towards the Aljibe, the closed forest gives way to clearer areas that will allow you to have good panoramic views and many possibilities of spotting these Cádiz deer in the middle of the courtship season. You may also spot the elusive Moorish roe deer. To do this, bring binoculars, remain silent and get up early or wait for evening to fall.

Moorish roe deer © J. Joaquín Aniceto

Near the municipalities of Tarifa and Algeciras, the Fates and Cabrito mountain ranges are home to the southernmost population of deer in Spain. Although it is not a population as abundant as in other areas of Los Alcornocales, the fact of being able to hear them and, with luck, see them almost on the coastline and with Africa in the background, provides an extra bonus and a touch of uncertainty to the experience. wait.

The Jebel Musa mountains, North Africa © Raphael

2. Dehesa del Camarate, a dream forest

The Sierra Nevada National Park not only stands out for housing some of the highest peaks on the Peninsula. Sierra Nevada is much more.

About 6 kilometers from the municipality of Lugros, on the north side of the National Park, is the Camarate dehesa, one of the best preserved mixed forests in Andalusia, known in the area as the Enchanted Forest. There are many melojo oaks, wild cherry trees, rowan trees, maples and other deciduous species that, with the arrival of autumn, offer a true melting pot of shades of ocher, red and green.

The Enchanted Forest. Camarate Dehesa © Eleni RDH

From Lugros there is a detour towards the Camarate horcajo, a magnificent setting where several ravines pour their waters into the Alhama River. You must continue on foot along a track that progressively ascends to the Cerro de los Carneros. A sensational carpeted enclave begins to appear before your eyes.

Continue climbing until you reach the hill where some impressive views await you: the Mirador Alto hill (2,684 meters) and the Picón de Jérez (3,088 meters). Further away, already on the horizon, the profiles of Sierra Mágina, Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas, Sierra de Castril and la Sagra stand out.

Views of the Camarate pasture © Veronica

In this sensational place, surrounded by peaks and mountain ranges, the roars of deer resound every autumn. A species that, although not very abundant in this area, is well noticed. The males choose these forests to carry out their ritual of seduction and territoriality to perpetuate the species.

The rest of the varied fauna that inhabits these shady corners remains in the background, as if dwarfed by the waste of strength of the deer.

3. Sierra de Cazorla, Segura and las Villas, the karst colossus of Andalusia

These wild mountains of Jaén, which constitute the largest Natural Park of the Iberian Peninsula, hide unique places to enjoy the rut in Spain, far from the main roads that cross it and that are almost alien to tourists, maps and the passage of the time.

Framed between the Guadalquivir and the Segura, in the eastern area of the Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas mountain ranges, there is a unique mountain desert. The imposing fields of Hernán Perea stand in the middle of these mountains, more than 40 kilometers from any town. A plateau of more than 5,000 hectares that is unlike anything you have seen before. The wildest nature dominates this place.

To be able to contemplate the bellowing in Cazorla, Segura and las Villas, visit the peripheral areas, where the forest masses still impose themselves on the bare ground. You can access them on the A-317 highway that connects Santiago de la Espada with Puebla de Don Fadrique, or from Vadillo Castril on the A-319 in the direction of Navas de San Pedro. Don't forget your binoculars, as you may also be able to spot a bearded vulture, golden eagle and other birds of prey. It is essential that you bring warm clothing and extra supplies.   

Deer in the Natural Park © Diputación de Jaén

A little further north is the course of the Madera River and an area known as Peña Rubia and Cerro del Espino, which you can access from Hornos de Segura along the JF-7039 highway. The locals call this part of the mountain range the Sierra Escondida, whose thick pine forests and deep valleys crowned by coves and rocks make up a landscape that will not leave you indifferent.

You can take the circular path that starts from the youth hostel and that will take you from the river to the high areas, where the chances of hearing a concert of roars and seeing the races and the clashing of deer antlers increase from the front line. . Furthermore, if the rain has been generous, these mountain landscapes are an explosion of autumn colors, whose beauty you will not easily get out of your eyes.

Valdeazores Lagoon. Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas National Park © Ana

You can also take the opportunity to take a solar boat route through Tranco first thing in the morning to listen and observe the rutting in mating season in front of the Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente viewpoint and then take a walking route that will take you from 8:00 in the morning until well into lunchtime, with an epic stop to taste a good picnic on a terrace brand of the Tranco house.

Here is a little more information about this Leisure Center:

Here we leave you the best rural houses in the Sierra de Segura, you also have some options in the Cazorla area if you wish. But you know, this activity has all the attractions so you can enjoy the purest nature in Jaén.

4. Sierra Morena, the great oak forest in southern Spain

Sierra Morena is undoubtedly one of the best places to witness the rutting in Spain. A length of 400 kilometers, a high population of deer and the existence of several Natural Parks practically guarantee success when it comes to enjoying this spectacle almost without leaving the car. There are several companies in each of them that carry out jeep tours through the most emblematic private estates for wildlife watching.

If, on the other hand, you prefer to go through less traveled areas and discover the rut in the heart of Sierra Morena on your own, you can visit El Centenillo, which is accessed from the municipality of La Carolina or from Andújar. Along the same track that starts from El Centenillo you access another very favorable area known as Selladores and Contadero and the Encebras Lane.

Apart from deer in heat, it is possible to observe other faunal treasures such as the imperial eagle, the black vulture or even the Iberian lynx. Why not take the opportunity to see some of them by signing up for this guided activity through the kingdom of the Iberian lynx.

El Centenillo © Andrés Buendía Garzón

Another little-known Mediterranean enclave with a high ecological value is the upper course of the Guarrizas River. You can access it from Guarromán or from the road that connects La Carolina with the Fernandina reservoir.

In Sierra Morena Oriental, in the heart of the Despeñaperros Natural Park, the Aviación and Jardines hills are two places that you should not overlook in this protected space. From Santa Elena and Aldeaquemada you will have no problems accessing them. The spectacular views of the Despeñaperros Organs are another incentive to visit them.

Already in the province of Córdoba, near the municipality of Cardeña, the path known as Vegueta del Fresno starts from the village of Cerezo, which will take you to the Yeguas River. This river will surprise you, as it hides a perfectly preserved Mediterranean forest and brims with virgin nature. It is the habitat of some of the most emblematic species of Iberian fauna such as the Iberian wolf, the lynx, the imperial eagle, the black vulture and the otter. To walk the trail you will need prior authorization.

Iberian lynx in Sierra Morena © Esteban Ureña

5. Monfragüe, the great Mediterranean National Park

Located in the province of Cáceres, the Monfragüe National Park is an immense Mediterranean oasis in Extremadura. Crossed by the Tagus and the Tiétar, in its more than 18,000 hectares there are more than 290 species of vertebrates recorded. Birds, mammals and amphibians find an ideal habitat in this area.

Monfragüe National Park © Gonzalo Blanc

Come autumn, groups of deer followed by males and the fights and bellowing of the latter are the predominant note in these forests and pastures. You can witness that reproductive frenzy with this rutting listening activity in the Extremadura pasture.

In this protected space, the options to admire the rut are multiple.

From the municipality of Serrejón, a track of about 16 kilometers that ends in the National Park offers good chances of spotting deer in full rut. With the arrival of the rut, the large males are seen in the clearings in their search for the deer. It is possible to explore the track on foot or by car. The choice is yours. It is advisable that you bring binoculars because the animals are at a considerable distance.

Another of the recommended routes is the one that leaves the municipality of San Carlos to the Tres Caños viewpoint, from which you can see a vast expanse of pastures. It is also possible to do it on foot or by car.

Mother and calf in Monfragüe © Gonzalo Blanc

If, on the other hand, you prefer to go into the thickets and enjoy a pleasant walk with more forestry, you can pay a visit to the Sierra de las Corchuelas. This route runs along a northern slope protected from the sun where thick heaths, gall oaks and cork oaks cover the slopes. The track connects the French fountain, which is located next to the road, with the keep of the Arab castle. The fortification, located in a strategic point, is one of the best viewpoints to spend a day observing wildlife.

Black vulture © Gonzalo Blanc

6. Sierra de Cuenca and Montes Universales, the unknown mountain ranges

Those who understand mountains and nature regret how little known the Sierra de Cuenca is, but that same thing makes traveling through it an unparalleled experience. It is possible that the lack of visitors is the reason why these steep mountain ranges, some of the largest in Spain, preserve unique ecological and landscape values.

In these mountains that seem to be off the maps, the deer, at the beginning of the courtship season, abandon the most remote areas to re-emerge in the sunny areas and clearings of almost all of these forests to proclaim their hegemony over the rest.

Male surrounded by his harem © Jaime Rodríguez Estival

In the vicinity of the municipality of Mohorte are the Natural Monuments of Tierra Muerta, the Torcas de Palancares and the Lagunas de la Cañada del Hoyo. Some wild places with a beauty that will surprise you. The marked trails to access them offer an unbeatable setting to enjoy a fruitful day of observing the rut. You will also be able to observe species of forest birds and birds of prey.

Another very favorable location is the imposing La Toba reservoir, supplied by the Júcar River. Nearby is the Uña lagoon, which surprises with the clarity of its waters. Watching the sunset and listening to the roar of the roars on the rocky cliffs that surround these sheets of water is a proposal that you must accept.

If you have questions about where to look for deer, sign up for this activity that will discover the secrets of the rut in Cuenca.

To the west of Teruel, in the area of the source of the Tagus, the Montes Universales are the natural continuation of the Cuenca mountain range and have a good population of deer. One of the places that stands out the most is the Valtablado valley, which can be accessed from the municipalities of Frías de Albarracín and El Vallecillo. It is a spectacular landscape sculpted by the Cabriel River.

Sierra de Cuenca © Jaime Rodríguez Estival

7. Montes de Valsaín, the forests of royal tradition

The Valsaín mountains, in the province of Segovia, are the least known side of the Sierra de Guadarrama. Between the Eresma, Acebeda and Peces rivers are the Pinar and Matas mountains, which share genes without being identical. In one the Scots pine dominates. In the other, the pine tries, but without success, to gain ground on the oak.

Their untamed character and extraordinary nature earned them the favor of nobles and kings, who found in them a unique space for hunting deer and even bears.

As a result of this intense hunting activity for centuries, the populations of deer and fallow deer are not very high. However, you can still witness their energetic autumn life in the peaks of Valsaín, where they continue to be the protagonists along with deer and wild boars.

The exuberant nature of Valsaín © Daniel

A good place to observe from is the Camorca hill. You can get to it by following a forest track that leaves the road that connects La Granja de San Ildefonso with the port of Navacerrada. The track begins at approximately kilometer 130, next to a forest guards house.

In a meadow, after the Fuente de la Reina, you must leave it to take a path that starts to the right and begins to gain height until you reach the hill. There wonderful views of the Valsaín mountains and the entire Sierra de Guadarrama await you. The background music is provided by the rutting.

8. Sierra de la Culebra, the land of the wolf

The Sierra de la Culebra is above all known for housing the largest concentration of wolves in all of Spain, and possibly in Europe. Without a doubt, the important population of roe deer, wild boar and deer that lives in its 65,891 hectares contributes to this. A full pantry for these predators.

Don't miss the opportunity to see this incredible species with a guided outing to observe the Iberian wolf in the Sierra de la Culebra.

Sierra de la Culebra © Adrián Quirogas

Although the deer became extinct at the beginning of the 20th century, it was reintroduced in 1973 and, today, there are a thousand specimens distributed throughout the area, which makes this mountain range one of the best places to witness the rut in Spain.

One of the points to take into account is next to the road that connects the towns of Rihonor de Castilla and Puebla de Sanabria. If you stop your car halfway, about 6 kilometers from Puebla, you will be able to hear the roars of male deer around you.

Imposing male in the Sierra de la Culebra © Adrián Quirogas

A little further to the west, in the vicinity of San Pedro de las Herrerías you also have the possibility of observing them. Very close to there, on the ZA-912 road towards Villardeciervos and Otero de Bodas, is one of the most visited viewpoints in the mountains, with great views over the area.

Deer fighting for territory © Mario García Rebollo

9. Fuentes Carrionas and Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina, the ancient weave

At the most remote end of Palencia, right where the province joins Cantabria, is the Fuentes Carrionas and Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina Natural Park. The relief is marked by a spectacular mountain range that, at more than 2,500 meters high, forms a beautiful environment of gorges, valleys, lakes and reservoirs.

Requejada Reservoir © Daniel

In this natural setting, and with more than 78,000 hectares to travel through, it is worth seeing the spectacle of conquests and confrontations that the forest hosts in autumn. You have the option of hiring specialized guides, but if you prefer to walk on your own you can also do so.

A simple but very attractive route is the one that starts near Cervera de Pisuerga. The beginning is just 5 minutes from this town, on the road that goes towards Guardo. You can leave your car in a parking lot that has information panels. This route crosses the Tosande valley to reach one of the most important yew forests in Castilla y León.

Autumn in Fuentes Carrionas © Carmen Rodríguez

In the valley it is normal to hear the bellowing of deer. But if you decide to continue and cross the tejeda, you can ascend to the peaks that surround the valley, where you will have a better chance of seeing these ungulates.

A walk along what is known as the Swamp Highway will also give you opportunities to observe them. From Cervera you will first pass through the Ruesga reservoir to then reach the Alto de la Varga viewpoint, two good viewing points.

10. Somiedo, the den of the brown bear

The Somiedo Natural Park stands as one of the last strongholds where you can find nature in its purest form and a privileged place to contemplate the rut in Spain. Its extensive forests, its peaks and its lakes are a refuge for some of the most emblematic species of Iberian fauna, such as the Cantabrian capercaillie, the Iberian wolf and the bear.

If you want to know this Natural Park in depth, think about returning in spring and spending three days discovering Somiedo through the best hiking routes.

Cantabrian bear specimen © José Rico Teba

To see the rut you can opt for one of the guided tours that are offered, or, venture out on your own and go to one of the many viewpoints that are distributed throughout the Natural Park. From any of them you will almost certainly be able to see something, and above all hear the roars.

The Pineda pass, a natural balcony with impressive views over the Orticeda valley, is a key location to admire this spectacle. It is reached on foot from the town of Pineda, after a short but steep climb.

You can link this point with the Aguino hill, close to the towns of Perlunes and Pola de Somiedo, from where it is also possible to hear the deer and, with luck, see some deer.

Another alternative is to climb to the top of Rubio, which offers a magnificent perspective of the Pigüeces valley, another classic place for rutting lovers in Somiedo.

View of the Pigüeces valley, Somiedo © Alan Berthelot

11. Selva de Irati, the largest beech forest in Spain

As in the Sierra de la Culebra, the deer had to be reintroduced to Irati in 1957, after the species was exterminated by hunting.

The Irati forest is an extensive forest of beech and fir trees that expands across 17,000 hectares of the Navarrese Eastern Pyrenees. It is the second most important area of beech and fir trees in Europe, after the Black Forest of Germany.

Autumn is the ideal time to visit, because, in addition to the rut, it offers the unique color of the trees when the foliage changes.

The colors of autumn in Irati © Rogelio Carrero

As soon as you arrive, in the vicinity of the Arrazola information point, which is accessed via the Orbaizeta road, you will probably hear some males. Afterwards you will only have to follow one of the numerous paths that go into the forest, as the roars can be heard almost anywhere in Irati.

One of these paths leaves from the same information point and reaches the top of Azalegui, located at 1,165 meters high, from where it is possible to spot the deer.

12. Sierra de Boumort, pre-Pyrenean paradise

The Boumort National Hunting Reserve, in the Lleida Pre-Pyrenees, has an area of about 15,000 hectares and is located between the Noguera Pallaresa and Segre valleys. From Barbastro or Lérida, in just over 1 hour, you will reach Puebla de Segur and Salàs de Pallars, towns that surround the San Antonio reservoir. From there you can go to the nearby town of Hortoneda, where a circular route lasting about 7 hours begins.

Mountains surrounding Pobla de Segur

This route runs through the small mountain ranges of Banyader, Segan and Travessa and finally crowns the peak of Boumort, 2,077 meters high. Of course, it is not necessary to complete the itinerary to observe the spectacular landscape and, when the time is right, the exhibition of bellowing, running and some fighting that the deer offer us in these imposing mountains. Getting up early, binoculars and keeping quiet is all you need.

Deer mating © Josep Monsó

You should know that in these mountains, as in the surrounding mountains of Carreu, Cuberes and Batsacans, there is the largest population of this ungulate in all of Catalonia. In addition, it is the only natural area in Europe where you can find the four species of scavenger birds on the continent: griffon vulture, black vulture, Egyptian vulture and bearded vulture. All of this makes this a key place to admire the rut in Spain.

Bearded Vulture in the Boumort Reserve © Josep Monsó

Boumort is also notable for its abundance of roe deer, chamois and wild boar. Other birds that can be found are the Pyrenean capercaillie, the golden eagle and the boreal owl. In addition, there are wolves, a species that returns to populate the Pyrenees after more than 70 years.

If you come, it is possible to explore the network of tracks and trails open to general use on your own, but you can also hire guided tours with several local companies that offer off-road tours.

Diversity is one of the charms of nature. The roar of the deer in heat is not as melodious as the chirping of the bunting, but the nettle and the violet fit just as well in the forest. The flapping of a butterfly's wings is as pastoral as the butt of two adult males nobly fighting over the females. The rut is less like a bar fight than a duel between gentlemen.