Red deer in Scotland: why did we choose this destination?

Scotland is one of the top destinations for wildlife and nature photographers. The country is known for its dramatic landscapes, windswept moors, mysterious mountains, and coastline rich in seabirds and marine mammals. But few people talk about red deer in Scotland.
Yet for anyone accustomed to photographing red deer in forest environments in Europe, Scotland offers a variety of very interesting landscapes. Mountains, moors, shorelines… If you are a wildlife photographer, you will be amazed to see the different ecosystems where it is possible to photograph red deer in Scotland! This is the subject of our article today.

The red deer on the islands of Scotland

In Scotland, red deer were imported from Europe for hunting and introduced to certain islands. In order to survive, they had to evolve and adapt to this new environment, especially since they had no way of returning to the ecosystems they had previously inhabited.
When we first arrived in Scotland, we were amazed to see these animals living in such an environment. We were transfixed by what we saw and fell in love with these incredible scenes: red deer on the islands.

The deer also shaped these islands, which were once wooded. Little by little, they transformed them into open environments, moors, very similar to the tundra, which is a biome found in cold climates.
As a reminder, deer are particularly fond of buds and young tree shoots, which can slow down or even prevent forest regeneration in the absence of predators such as wolves. Unfortunately, this is what has happened on some of the Inner Hebrides islands.

Red deer in the Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands, what a legendary place!

Rich in history, legends, and breathtaking landscapes, the Highlands are the north-western part of Scotland.
The mountainous parts of the highlands and the coast are definitely worth a visit. There is a wide variety of wildlife, including European otters, mountain hares, and European wildcats. But red deer reign supreme here.

During October, the roar of the deer echoes through the mountains. It is a private concert and a unique experience for nature lovers. What a privilege it is to observe these red deer living in an environment of rock and alpine semi-tundra.
We accompany wildlife photographers to the Highlands to photograph red deer at the top of the mountains. The images are strikingly reminiscent of those of ibex in the French and Swiss Alps.

However, although our red deer photography tour takes place on the Inner Hebrides, we prefer the Highlands for our private photography tours because such a tour requires more flexibility. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions on this subject.

Did you say deer on the shores?

It is very interesting to note that for two of our photography tours, namely the red deer in Scotland and the Arctic fox in Iceland, we observe a similar situation: these mammals turn to the ocean for survival!

Whenever we talk about Scottish deer wandering along the shores to feed, wildlife photographers look at us with wide eyes. Indeed, it is hard to believe that these inhabitants of the great European forests feed in and around the ocean.
It is important to note that the soil on the Scottish islands is very poor. It contains few nutrients and few mineral salts. The deer are therefore forced to find these nutrients elsewhere. And it is on the shores, where seaweed, kelp and other plants washed up by the ocean, that they find these nutrients.

We must not forget that in the history of evolution, land mammals have become marine mammals (eg, whales and seals), and vice versa (hippopotamuses, for example). When we see this type of adaptation, we cannot help but think that one day, perhaps, these deer will become inhabitants of the oceans.

We devote part of our red deer photography course in Scotland to observing and photographing these behaviours. In some places, dozens of stags and hinds come down to the shore at the end of the day to feed. The phenomenon is as impressive as it is unusual.

The deer rut, a tradition among wildlife photographers

Over the years, the deer rut has become a tradition and a real passion for many wildlife photographers and nature lovers. When October arrives, many of you head to the woods for the chance to observe or photograph the king of the forest.

In Scotland, the deer rut lasts a little longer than in Europe. This is because very few climatic events (such as late heat waves) or human activities (such as hunting) interfere with the mating season of Scottish red deer. This makes it an ideal region for observation and photography.

Our photography tour in Scotland takes place on an island that is home to more than 6,000 deer. This means that the chances of seeing them are very high. The same is true for fighting scenes, with higher chances than on the continent.

During our photography workshops, we focus on red deer at dawn and in the morning, then at the end of the day until nightfall. We take advantage of the free time in the early afternoon to look for other species, such as the European otter, which is also present.

Finally, given the sensitivity of deer to disturbance during the rutting season, we limit the amount of time each photographer spends close to a subject. The aim is, of course, to limit our impact and act responsibly.

Our vision of wildlife photography

We have noticed a classic mistake that many wildlife photographers make: wanting to get as close as possible to the animals. However, taking a portrait of an animal is far from being the only photographic possibility, far from it. Limiting yourself to this type of photography is an artistic constraint.
We love photography because it allows us to tell stories, document events, and create works that provoke emotions. To achieve these goals, we often need to take a step back, observe for longer, and, above all, take into account the environment of our subject.

When it comes to red deer in Scotland, the environment is paramount, as the landscapes are a call to creativity. We chose to organise our photography trip to Scotland on an island precisely because of the diversity of these landscapes and the uniqueness of these deer that live by the ocean. This choice allows us to offer wildlife photographers unique opportunities: during our workshops, it is possible to make several daily observations in good conditions for photography, in varied environments such as the Scottish moors, forests, and shorelines.

During our photography tours, we therefore advise photographers to keep the necessary distance to include the landscapes in their compositions. They can take a few portraits, but we then invite them to tell the story of an island deer living on the edge of Europe, on the shores of the North Atlantic!

The ideal equipment for photographing deer in Scotland

Depending on the destination, we advise photographers to be pragmatic and adapt their photographic equipment. In the case of red deer in Scotland, several problems arise:

• Open landscapes require greater mobility and a discreet approach.
• The Scottish weather is known to be variable and unpredictable.
• The terrain can sometimes be rough, rocky, or boggy.

To adapt to these issues, we need to adapt both our photographic equipment and our clothing.