After the summer, with the arrival of the first rains, the forests of Spain are filled with a thunderous and characteristic sound: the bellowing of the deer .

 

The rutting season takes place from mid-September to mid-October. The males, in an attempt to reclaim the females and protect their harem, produce these bellows that, apparently, no longer only attract their female counterparts, but also tourists.

 

And it is that the bellowing of the deer has become one of the most demanded ecotourism activities in Spain during the autumn.

 

With a bit of luck and choosing the right path it is possible, not only to hear the characteristic sound, but also to find the traces of its passage. Like the earth removed, where they have marked the territory, or the bark that fell from the trees when they scratched their antlers.

 

The climax of fortune is reached when you get to see a fight between two males. An epic duel that always ends without blood; for if something characterizes the king of the forest is his nobility.

 

The places where to witness the spectacle of the bellowing in Spain are numerous. Fortunately, the country still has enough forests in which the deer claims its territory. Knowing how to choose the right destination is essential to achieve your goal.

 

In addition, having the help of local guides always facilitates the mission. They know the territory better than anyone; They can take you to the most recommended places to spot the deer and advise you on the guidelines to follow for their observation.

 

You know, autumn is not a station to stay at home. When the temperatures soften, the forests offer us multiple options to enjoy them. The bellowing of the deer in Spain is a perfect opportunity to take the adventurer inside you.

The forests of eastern Andalusia are especially recommended to witness the rutting. In the province of Jaén, the Natural Park of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas, the largest in Spain, hides unique places for this purpose; like the Campos de Hernán Perea, Peña Rubia or the famous viewpoint of Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente, where he filmed some of his most famous shots on the shores of the Tranco reservoir.

 

Another great Andalusian mountain range, Sierra Morena, is also an auspicious enclave. Do not forget to visit the site of El Centenillo, which is reached from La Carolina, or the Natural Park of the Sierra de Andújar. In addition to deer it is possible that you glimpse other treasures of the Iberian fauna such as the black vulture, the imperial eagle or the lynx.

 

 

Although with less tradition, the west of Andalusia also has corners in which it is possible to enjoy the bellowing. The Natural Park of Los Alcornocales, in the province of Cádiz, is a good example. Head to the spot of La Sauceda, where, waiting for sunrise or sunset, you may also see the elusive Moorish roe deer.

 

 

That immense Extremaduran oasis that is the Monfragüe National Park is full of bellows and hoars when the fall arrives. The viewpoint of the Tres Caños allows us to cover a wide range of pastures in which to witness the persecution of male deer to females. You can also attend the procession in the Sierra de San Pedro, in the same province of Cáceres.

 

 

Two places make Castilla-La Mancha an ideal destination for the bellowing. One is the Cabañeros National Park, which also has one of the largest black vulture colonies in Spain. The other is the Serranía de Cuenca which, together with the Montes Universales, have a good deer population. It is not difficult to see them pass through the sunbeds and peladeros of these forests.

 

 

The north of Spain is also the territory of the deer. Those who bet on the Cantabrian Mountains have the disadvantage of having to deal with large predators, such as bears and wolves. Perhaps because of that need to hide, observing them requires patience and good eyesight.

 

You can try it in the Sierra de la Culebra, in Zamora, between the towns of Rihonor de Castilla and Puebla de Sanabria. Or, if you go through Asturias, in the Somiedo Natural Park, where you have multiple viewpoints from which to wait.

 

 

La Selva de Irati, in the eastern Pyrenees of Navarre, is an extensive beech forest that becomes colorful when autumn arrives. That is already a good reason to visit her at this time. The other is the bellowing. You can also witness the latter in the Lleida Pre-Pyrenees, specifically in the Sierra de Boumort, which contains the largest deer population in all of Catalonia.

 

So, do you dare to meet the king of the forest?