Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, 8 Apr 2024 15:00

Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary does what it says on the tin. This is the place to go in the New Forest to be sure of seeing deer, particularly fallow deer. It has a visitor's viewing platform overlooking some fields where the rangers feed the deer daily throughout the summer months. This is great for tourists who may never have seen a deer in the wild before but, unfortunately, the backdrop from the viewing platform isn't particularly representative of the forest's woodland; it's too pastoral and your deer photos can end up looking a little bit 'Richmond Park'. Despite this, it is popular with the summer tourists and, while there's no guarantee the deer will come (they are wild, after all), they're no fools and usually turn up for their free meal.

The deer in the sanctuary have become more accustomed to humans, so they tend to be less timid. However, the beauty of the New Forest is that the deer are truly wild animals and are free to roam throughout its four hundred square miles, offering up the opportunity for encounters anywhere to anyone who ventures away from the busy tourist spots.

That's what happened on this occasion, just 300 metres from the viewing platform, off the path and deep into the woods (very close to the site of the 'Whispers of the Hunt: A Summer’s Day With the New Forest Deer' post), I came across this little group of does quietly eating. They were nervous and seemed determined to foil me, repeatedly turning their back and mockingly flicking their tails at me as they trotted away just as I was about to press the shutter. Keeping a good distance, I kept shooting and, with a slow approach, the long lens and a little patience, a few shots with their faces turned my way were in the bag before they finally wandered off deep into the woods. But, if you take this approach and return home with a pile of 'just-in-case' photos, don't forget to immediately cull your duds ruthlessly; select one or two of the best shots before your photo library becomes an overwhelming and dispiriting mass of similar images that you can't face editing.

This little dance, this game of back-and-forth between me and the deer, typifies my wildlife photography. I've lost count of the number of bird or mammal shots I have of a retreating backside or, by the time my binoculars are focussed, all I see is a disappearing rear end. It makes me wonder if there's a market for an ID book of animal backsides - a 'tongue in cheek' guide to the crafty creatures who seem determined to keep their best side hidden.