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Have you ever heard the roar of a deer echoing through the forest? Autumn is the perfect time to experience this in the nature of the Dolomites and the Alps. Between September and October, the mating season of male deer begins and the forests fill with their deep and powerful calls.
For those visiting the mountains during this time of year, participating in an excursion to listen to the deer rut is a special opportunity to learn about wildlife and experience the landscape away from the most crowded places.
Excursions dedicated to the rut are generally organized between mid-September and mid-October, in the early morning hours or after sunset. Some outings also include the use of infrared thermal cameras, which allow guides to locate animals through their body heat without illuminating them and without disturbing the wildlife.
Why do deer rut?
The deer rut is the characteristic call emitted by males during the mating season, also called the rutting period.
In autumn, male deer compete to conquer and defend groups of females. Their call serves to signal their presence, communicate their strength and warn other males to keep their distance.
When competition increases, males may also confront each other using their large antlers. The rut thus becomes a kind of "long-distance challenge": a powerful call can be enough to discourage a rival before the confrontation even begins.
Listening to this sound in the silence of an alpine forest is a particularly evocative experience, especially at dawn, dusk or during a night excursion.
Deer rut in Stelvio National Park
The Stelvio National Park is one of the most interesting alpine territories for observing and learning about wildlife. During the rutting season, guided excursions are organized in the Peio and Rabbi Valleys, accompanied by Park operators.
The activities allow you to discover the behavior of deer, recognize their tracks and listen to the calls of males in their natural environment.
Dawn excursions in Stelvio Park
Morning excursions start very early, when the forest is still immersed in silence. This is precisely one of the best times to listen to the sounds of wildlife and observe the first movements of animals.
Park operators will accompany participants along the route, telling curiosities and characteristics of the inhabitants of Stelvio's forests.
Times and departure points
- Val di Peio: departure at 6:00 from the Park Visitor Center in Cogolo di Peio. Return expected at 14:30.
- Val di Rabbi: departure at 6:00 from the Park Info Point in Rabbi Fonti. Return expected at 14:30.
2026 Dates
- Val di Peio: Sunday September 20
- Val di Rabbi: Sunday September 27 and October 4
Night excursions to listen to the rut
To experience the rut in an even more emotional atmosphere, the Park also offers evening and night excursions.
The evening begins with a brief introduction dedicated to the Stelvio National Park and the fauna that inhabits it. Before the excursion, there is also a typical dinner in a mountain hut or agritourism facility, accompanied by moments of in-depth discussion about the environment and animals in the area.
At 21:30 you set off for an excursion in the forest. During the walk you will be able to listen to the roars of deer and use an infrared thermal camera to locate animals even in the darkness.
Times and departure points
- Val di Peio: meeting and departure at 19:00 from the Park Visitor Center in Cogolo di Peio. Return expected at 23:30.
- Val di Rabbi: meeting and departure at 19:00 from the Park Info Point in Rabbi Fonti. Return expected at 23:30.
2026 Dates
- Val di Peio: Saturday September 19 and 26, October 3
- Val di Rabbi: Friday September 18 and 25, October 2
Information for participation
For information about excursions, how to participate and any reservations, you can contact the Tourism Agency of the Sole, Peio and Rabbi Valleys.
Tourism Agency of the Sole, Peio and Rabbi Valleys SCPA
Via Marconi 7 – 38027 Malé (TN)
Phone: +39 0463 901280
Email: info @ visitvaldisole.it
Deer rut in Cansiglio Forest
The Cansiglio Forest, in Veneto, also offers the opportunity to get to know the deer rut phenomenon up close.
The event is part of the Biodiversity Trails 2026 – Love Songs: The Deer Rut, an initiative dedicated to discovering the biodiversity and fauna of alpine forests.
Love Songs: The Deer Rut
Date: September 26, 2026
Time: 17:30
Meeting place: Naturalistic Museum "G. Zanardo", Cansiglio, Tambre
The experience begins at the Naturalistic Museum, where participants can learn more about the deer, its biology and the particular behavior of males during the mating season.
After the introduction, the group will move outside for an outing in Cansiglio Forest, with the aim of listening to the rut and observing signs of the presence of deer in their natural habitat.
The excursion will be guided by the Carabinieri Biodiversity Unit of Vittorio Veneto, which will accompany participants to discover the ecosystem of Cansiglio and its rich biodiversity.
When should you go to listen to the deer rut?
If you are planning a vacation in the Dolomites or the mountains of Veneto and want to experience this, the period to keep in mind is between September and October, when male deer are engaged in the mating season.
The most favorable times are generally dawn and dusk, but organized excursions allow you to experience it also during the evening and night.
For those unfamiliar with the area, participating in a guided excursion is the best solution: guides and experts know the territories frequented by animals and can explain how to behave to observe wildlife without disturbing it.
An experience in nature to be lived with respect
The rut is much more than a simple animal call: it is one of the most fascinating natural phenomena of autumn in the Alps.
For a tourist visiting the Dolomites, Stelvio Park or Cansiglio Forest, an excursion dedicated to deer can become an original way to discover the mountain through its sounds, its forests and its wildlife.
It is not guaranteed that you will manage to see deer: often it will be their rut and the traces left in the forest that tell the story of their presence. And that is precisely the charm of the experience.
Walking through the forest at sunset, listening to a distant call and trying to determine where it comes from, or hearing the rut in the silence of the night, are emotions that are difficult to forget.
So if you are on vacation in the Dolomites between September and October, schedule an excursion to listen to the deer rut: it is one of the most evocative appointments with alpine nature during autumn.
