The Red Deer Range in the Galloway Forest Park between Newton Stewart and New Galloway is a wonderful place to visit for nature lovers. The red deer are so tame they will come and take food from your hand. In fact, they almost demand to be fed! Far from wild creatures, these deer are almost domesticated and simply love the arrival of visitors and the interaction they get to have with them.
Our magnificent stag sniffs the air no doubt on the lookout for rivals as this photograph was taken towards the end of the rutting season. Although the stags will revert to a wild state in order to compete with each other during this fascinating time of year, they still let the softer side out and will pop down to the hide to be fed. They are still on the look out for potential competitors and it makes for an interesting time to see who is at the top of the pile this season.
One of the highlights of any visit to Dumfries and Galloway, the Red Deer Range makes a wonderful place to visit for adults and children alike. Children love the opportunity to interact with the deer and to be close enough to hand feed them. There are organised talks by the rangers and this offers a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the deer and the surrounding area.
The Red Deer Range can be found on The Queen' s Way, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway, DG8 7BL
Keywords: red deer (10). 1/400; f/2.8; ISO 100; 300.0 mm.