The Deer Rut in the Ardennes: When and Where to Hear Red Deer Roar

It's still dark in the forest. Mist hangs between the spruces and all is quiet, apart from dripping water. Then suddenly a deep, hoarse sound echoes through the valley: a red deer stag roaring. Once you've heard it, you never forget it. Every autumn, nature lovers head to the Ardennes to experience this spectacle: the deer rut.

What is the deer rut?

The rut is the mating season of the red deer, Belgium's largest wild mammal. The stags, with their impressive antlers, gather a group of hinds around them and defend them against rivals. They mainly do this with sound: the roar, a deep, raw bellow that carries for kilometres.

If roaring isn't enough, it sometimes comes to a fight. Two stags then push and clash their antlers together. It's spectacular to hear, but it usually remains a trial of strength.

When is the rut?

The rut runs from roughly mid-September to mid-October. The peak, when you hear the most, usually falls at the end of September and the beginning of October. The exact timing varies from year to year and from region to region.

The best times of day are:

• at sunrise, when the forest is still quiet;
• at sunset, when the deer become active again.

On calm, cool evenings the sound carries furthest.

Where can you hear the deer best?

The Belgian Ardennes have vast forests with a healthy red deer population. Good places include:

• The forests of Saint-Hubert, the classic spot for the rut.
• The Semois valley, around Bouillon and Vresse-sur-Semois.
• The Forêt d'Anlier, in the south of the province of Luxembourg.
• The Amblève valley, around Stoumont.
• The East Cantons, around Gouvy and the High Fens.

Many municipalities and tourist offices organise guided rut walks during this period. For a first time, that's the best choice: a guide knows where the deer are and how to hear them without disturbing them. Groups are deliberately small, often six to eight people.

How to experience the rut without disturbing the deer

Red deer are shy, and the rut costs the stags a lot of energy. So be a good guest:

• Stay on the paths and don't enter closed parts of the forest.
• Be quiet. Whisper and put your phone on silent.
• Don't use a flash and don't shine torches into the forest.
• Don't lure the animals, for example with sounds or apps.
• Leave your dog at home.
• Keep your distance. A rutting stag is not an animal to approach.

Also note that autumn is hunting season in the Ardennes. Some forests are temporarily closed. Check the signs at the forest entrance and the municipality's website.

Dress warmly: it gets cold while you wait

Rut walks are mostly about standing still and listening, often at the coldest times of day. A temperature around freezing at sunrise is not unusual in the Ardennes in October.

• Wear layers and a warm mid layer, such as a fleece-lined hoodie.
• Choose clothing in natural colours that doesn't rustle.
• Bring a hat, gloves and a thermos with something hot.
• Waterproof shoes are no luxury: the grass is wet with dew in the morning.

Frequently asked questions

When is the deer rut in Belgium?

From around mid-September to mid-October. The peak usually falls at the end of September and the beginning of October.

Where can you hear deer roar in Belgium?

Mainly in the Ardennes: the forests of Saint-Hubert, the Semois valley, the Forêt d'Anlier, the Amblève valley and the East Cantons.

Is it dangerous to be in the forest during the rut?

Not if you stay on the paths and keep your distance. Deer avoid people. Do take hunting days into account, when forests are sometimes closed.

Wear the red deer

Our Mist Crown design shows a red deer in the morning mist, exactly the image of a rutting morning. It's available as a T-shirt, sweatshirt and hoodie. Discover all the animals in our Wildlife collection.