top of page
JM Buchet Photography
The Rut in Ardenne
On the heights above the Semois…
Hinds live in herds for much of the year, apart from the stags. As autumn approaches, the mature males return to these territories. For a few weeks, the feeding grounds and forest edges become the stage for the rut, while the forests echo with their deep, guttural calls.
Atmospheres...
The Semois, never far away, contributes to the misty atmosphere sometimes found on the feeding grounds in the early morning. The mist adds to the sense of mystery, especially during those remarkable moments when the stags can be heard but remain hidden from view. Yet hearing them is already essential: with a little experience, their bellows help reveal where they are.
Some stags are truly impressive!
Around the dominant stags…
Hinds, calves and young stags also frequent the feeding grounds, often trying to keep out of the way of all this autumn commotion.
The Rut...
A moment of rest…
The confrontation…
Following a ritual that gradually builds in intensity, the stags observe and size each other up, sometimes walking side by side for some distance. Each assesses his rival and, when intimidation is no longer enough and the tension reaches its peak, confrontation becomes inevitable. Fighting is then the only way to settle the rivalry!
The Holy Grail!
After a few intense weeks devoted to ensuring the survival of the species, the stags will soon fall silent. The forest will return to its calm… until the following autumn, when their bellows will once again echo across the heights above the Semois.
bottom of page