The photograph shows a red stag resting with his harem in the long grass on a warm sunny afternoon in Richmond Park.

But this tranquil, idyllic scene belies the fact that now is the time for frantic deer activity and that same stag has no doubt already fought many a duel with rivals hoping to lure away some of his hard won conquests.

Indeed, most of the time that same stag amog others will be on his feet trotting around herding prospective mates, at the same time voicing loud, far-reaching belching bellows warning off interlopers, which are often young immature stags trying their luck.

The rutting season will soon reach its climax for both red and fallow deer. Bucks of the latter species walk around issuing sounds resembling soft coughing burps. Fights between rivals can be quite spectacular, antlers clashing noisily.

Often the best time to witness such bouts, always at a respectful distance, will be on warm sunny days close to a 'rutting stand' in open grassland.

Both red stags and fallow bucks use wet muddy hollows in which to wallow and drench themselves to enhance their scents and hopefully excite hinds and does.

The rutting season only lasts for a few weeks during which time the males hardly eat.

Expending so much energy is exhausting for the participants that emerge from the rut thin and weak.