In the rural tourism accommodation of the zone will offer us practical advice to reach the ideal locations where to witness the bellowing, in some cases, besides informing us, they guide us to those same places in organized excursions.
When is the bellowing in Asturias? When does it start?
What is popularly known as rutting is something other than a demonstration of strength and mating, a period that starts in mid-September and ends in November and that marks the time when, suddenly, the libido of the deer awakens. A period of heat that breaks the traditional silence of the forest with incessant howls. As autumn progresses, the animal clamor increases and reaches its peak when all the males fight each other to win the favor of the females and demonstrate who among them is the one who deserves to create a new generation of deer. An example of animal Darwinism.
For weeks the males hardly take care of their feeding, to focus almost entirely on sexual activity, to the point that after the bellowing they may have lost a fifth of their weight. The ramming between antlers produces a singularly wild sound, similar to a bang, that echoes in the mountain range. Challenges continue incessantly, tension is palpable in each bellow, the call to the females becomes deafening. After the fight, wolves, vultures and other scavengers will take advantage of the weakest: who always come out worse off and who have not been able to show their gallantry in the fight.
This spectacle of nature can be contemplated in its habitat, comfortably and without interfering with its natural development.
Routes to the rutting season in Asturias 2024
We propose here the possibility…
When is the best time to see the bellowing in Asturias?
There are two moments: at sunset, since the sun begins to hide up to two hours later o at dawn and its previous two hours.
Information:
Places to witness the bellowing in Asturias:
Council of Aller, in the central mountain of the Principality, which for some years has been organizing tour packages for this show in which the rural lodgings and the town hall itself collaborate. They consist of a weekend, from Friday to Sunday, with full board and accommodation in addition to the aforementioned excursion to see the bellowing. The excursions are made in off-road, either from Collanzo, to the Cuetos Cuetos, or to La Valencia from Felechosa. The 5: 30 is the time to get up to face a long and intense day full of emotions. At one point, the vehicle will abandon us and we will continue the march on foot for about thirty minutes.
The Natural Park of Networks. One of the ideal places to enjoy the bellowing in the natural park is the Cabeza del Arcu, in the mountains of Caleao. There, with a background of deciduous forests, ideal environment for the refuge of the deer, you can witness the wild sonata. Sometimes, if the visitor is accompanied by forest guards, it is possible to observe the deer in full contest.
Somiedo Natural Park: a short walking tour is made to reach an area where good observation and hearing of the bellowing is possible. The Pineda pass is probably one of the most privileged in Asturias to attend this show, since a large rock serves as a viewpoint over the entire Orticeda valley. It can also be seen in Perlunes, about 6 kilometers from Pola de Somiedo. The routes can take place from dawn to 2 in the afternoon, for small groups, including an interpretive walk on the fauna of the Somiedo natural park. More info: 609 547 788 and 661 524 378 (NATUR).
The council of Ponga, recently declared a Natural Park, constitutes an optimal place to observe this phenomenon. The entire territory is composed of large forest stands of autochthonous forest that alternate with meadows and high-altitude natural pastures. This habitat is the ideal deer, which takes refuge among the shadows of the trees all over the council of Ponga to the forests of Sajambre, including Bosque de Peloño, Salguerosa, El Semeldón and Monte Pedrosu, among others . The displacement to the indicated places to observe the rutting can be carried out autonomously in own car accompanied by experts from the area. In Ponga visitors are offered special menus, related to venison, hunting and other products of the area.
Council of Piloña. From the recreational area of La Pesanca; to see the bellowing if you have to go on foot, it is not a long walk and runs through a mountainous area.
In Teverga It can be seen in different places, the most popular being the Alesga area. In the Sierra de La Mesa, and especially in the Tevergana slope, there are several enclaves: Braña de las Navariegas, Valle de Cuevas, Braña de la Aguil, Fuenfría, La Vallina el Mosquito, La Sedernia and El Cuervo peak already in the near the Port of San Lorenzo.
Proaza Council, in the area of Caranga, the area of berrea closest to Oviedo. To locate the good points, it is only necessary to ask some of the locals in Caranga de Arriba. In La Peña la Forcada there are good sightings and also in the Mengollo valley.
Helpful tips: the footwear must protect the ankles well. It is advisable to provide warm and rain clothes, preferably a raincoat or cape.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
