Just the One

After work I took a walk through the area where I'd expect the deer to be congregating for the rut.  Despite having met the gamekeeper last week and him saying that the rut was still taking place, I was drawing a blank until I headed up a small path alongside one of the brooks that criss cross the land.

This stag was on its own, in deep undergrowth and I was struggling to get a clear shot of him.  His antlers suggest he has still got some growing to do, and he wasn't vocalising at all.  He seemed intent to stay in this general area, once he was satisfied I wasn't going to approach him.  It was still lovely to be out on a bright warm afternoon.