New Forest Deer are a well recognised feature of the New Forest landscapes that visitors can enjoy watching, if they are lucky to spot them.

There are five different species of deer that can be found here in the New Forest and they are as follows – Red, Fallow, Roe, Sika, and Muntjac.

Well known for being shy and elusive animals, deer prefer parts of the forest that are quiet and less inhabited during the day. However, dusk and dawn are the times when they get slightly bolder and venture closer to the roadsides and out into the open spaces more, so please take care when driving.

They tend to stick together and move around the New Forest in herds, so it is rare you will encounter a single deer. If so, the rest of the group will be not far away. The dense woodland provides good cover for safety and from the elements during bad weather, it is also the perfect environment for these animals to thrive and live their lives largely uninterrupted.

Best Places For Spotting Deer In The New Forest

Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, near Lyndhurst is a really good location to get up fairly close to deer and they are fed daily between the months of April and September. Bolderwood offers the chance to see herds of fallow deer frequently gathering around as they wait for a Forestry Commission Ranger to come and feed them. There is a great viewing platform situated here, where if you are there at the right time you can watch them being fed. The feeding takes place anytime, obviously when a ranger is free, between 12.30pm and 2.30pm.

A New Forest deer safari may be on the agenda for the slightly more adventurous. Based near Burley, this is a great option for those that are looking for exciting things to do with their children and it allows a unique chance to get up close to some of them. Take the opportunity from the back of a trailer to see herds of red deer in their natural habitat and also fallow deer who like to come and visit. They are used to the noise of the tractor and trailer, so it is quite possible to get within a short distance of them.

The less recognised Sika deer tend to inhabit in the south of the New Forest, around the Beaulieu area. This particular breed is not native to the UK and the small herd has bred from two deer that escaped from the Beaulieu estate in the early 20th century.

Autumn is a great time for spotting deer as it is the rutting season for most species.

Deer Species Of The New Forest

Fallow Deer

Apparently the Romans first introduced Fallow deer into Britain before they became extinct in the UK after the fall of the Roman empire. Subsequently, it wasn’t until the 11th century that the Fallow were reintroduced back into the country. The New Forest was also William the Conqueror’s first hunting ground in England.

The deer census of the New Forest in the 17th century reported that the population had amassed to around 7,500 fallow deer, today those numbers have significantly reduced to around 1,300. However, this species remains widespread throughout England and Wales.

Fallow deer grow to about one metre high and are most easily spotted by their distinctive black and white rump. In the summer months the Fallow have a light chestnut-coloured coat with white spots, this then changes to an unspotted grey-brown coat in the winter months. The Fallow is the only native deer with palmate antlers. These antlers can reach up to 70cm long.

The female Doe gives birth to a single fawn in June or July after a gestation of 229 days. The males, known as Bucks generally live for about eight to ten years, but have been known to live as long as sixteen years.

Red Deer

Standing 1.2 metres high, the red deer is the largest wild animal in Britain. These majestic creatures are rich red-brown in colour with a pale brown patch on their rump. They are a native species to the UK, having migrated from Europe over 11,000 years ago.

They tend to breed from the end of September until November and to watch two male stags rutting during the Autumn season is a truly impressive sight.

These animals prefer to feed on grasses and shrubs such as heather which is commonplace in the New Forest.

Red deer can be found mainly to the west of the forest, as the aim of The Forestry Commission is to maintain the herds in this area to avoid the risk of cross-breeding with Sika deer. It is estimated that the population of this specific species in the New Forest is around 125.

Roe Deer

Roe are smaller than the Fallow and measure around 60-75cm in height.

They have a white rump and the Roe also have a white patch under the chin. They have short, three-pointed antlers. The Roe has a winter coat that is a grey-brown colour, this then changes in the summer to a bright red and brown coat.

Roe deer are common and widespread throughout England. The last known number of Roe inhabiting the New Forest is about 365. They tend to graze on a variety of foods including brambles, heather and tree shoots. Roe, like the rest of the other deer species are most active at dawn and dusk.

The breeding season usually occurs between mid July to mid August and gestation usually lasts nine months.

Sika Deer

The origin of the Sika is Japan and the New Forest Sika descend from those given to the 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu by King Edward VII.

Sika are kept in the Beaulieu area by The Forestry Commission to avoid cross-breeding with the Red deer found in the west of The New Forest. Numbers are maintained at about 100.

The Sika are of similar size and colour to fallow deer but slightly darker. They like to graze on shrubs, grasses and particularly heather.

Their breeding season starts from the end of September to November and Doe’s have a gestation period of 7 and a half months.

Sika tend to be active throughout a 24 hour period, although preferring to be more active in darkness.

Muntjac Deer

Muntjac are small, dog-sized in appearance and have long back legs. They are often called barking deer as they are known to continuously bark loudly. Muntjac also scream when alarmed. This particular breed are not often seen in the New Forest, however you are most likely to spot them around the Beaulieu area.

Muntjac breed all year round and the females are able to conceive again within days of giving birth.

Muntjac numbers are increasing so the Forestry Commission has a policy of culling them as they represent a threat to the native Roe.

Care For New Forest Deer

The New Forest National Park is a beautiful place to visit and by being a Forest friendly visitor you will be helping to keep it that way.

Please respect the environment these magnificent creatures live in and take care not to cause any unnecessary alarm or distress whilst viewing or encountering them. They are shy and timid animals and dogs should be kept on a lead at all times if in the vicinity of a single or herd of deer.

Your food and litter could harm all the resident animals which also includes the ponies,donkeys and cattle. Please take your litter home if bins are full.

Unfortunately, accidents involving deer do happen. Be sure to carry an animal emergency hotlines card which will give you all the information you need if an accident does happen. Please be aware it is an offence to drive away after a collision and not report it!

We hope you enjoy your visit to the area and get a chance to spot the elusive New Forest deer that make this wonderful National Park their home.