Red Deer

[hminx]

Out for a drive this morning in the Scottish highlands when this bunch of mature Red Deer stags ran in front of the car then stood and watched long enough to get off a few shots after a panicky lens change
Still haven't found my lens cap. Their antlers are still at the soft velvet stage and looking closely I could see the flies were giving them hell. I did find their behaviour rather strange and this shot would not have happened back in NZ unless on a deer farm.

[Eric D]

Some serious racks!! Very nice capture...looks like a little tongue hanging out on the Deer..... to the far right!

[Loupey]

Magnificent antlers!

Yeah, that one on the right is giving you a raspberry.

[hminx]

Thanks guys, not sure about the tongue thing, they were moving but not pushed too hard.
Oh and found lens cap , must remember not to leave car door open on public road....

[scott-devon]

Beautiful animals, they have an amazing size antler compared to the deer here.

[OldClicker]

Nice shot.

I think that they are a closer relative to the North American elk than to what we call deer.

Terry

[hminx]

Thanks Scott, and Terry , we have both these Reds and Elk in NZ and it is common for them to inter breed