Red deer rut in Hohe Tauern national park, Austria

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Just before winter sets in, at the end of September, there is the mating season of the deer. The males make preparations to attract the attention of the hinds. The older red deer have got their antlers back in shape again and are at full battle strength.
The young deer are a bit later.
A deer discards its antlers in February. In September it has grown a new pair - sometimes a little larger and sometimes a little wider.
During the growing period the antlers are covered in a velvety layer: the velvet antlers. This velvet layer contains the blood vessels which provide the necessary nutrients.
The antlers are full-grown in September and the deer rubs the velvet layer off against the tree. Simple and easy.
Walking over the grass roaring like a lion. The males provoke each other and fight as though their lives depend on it. And, as is usual in the animal world, the winner gets the ladies. Yes, ladies, for the leader - or dominant male, as he is now called - wins himself a harem.
He will have to defend it against other deer who naturally also seek to promote their genes. During this period the dominant stag eats hardly anything. He simply has not got time to leave its territory; others may take his place. At the end of the mating season the dominant animal has lost around a quarter of his original weight.

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