In early autumn the forests of Masuria (the Masurian Lake District) begin to sound entirely different. This is the time of the red deer rut — the deer’s mating season.
In the evenings and at dawn the woods carry deep, very distinctive sounds. For many people, the first encounter with the rut is something hard to forget.
The stags try to drive off their rivals and call the hinds to them. Their voices can travel astonishing distances, bouncing off lakes and valleys.
In the Pisz Forest (Puszcza Piska) and the surrounding woodland the conditions for hearing the rut are exceptionally good. You do not need to travel to distant national parks to listen to wild deer in their proper element.
Often a quiet evening on the terrace or a walk along the forest edge is enough. The sounds appear in the background on their own.
The rut is a good reminder that the nature of Masuria is not a “backdrop”. It is a living ecosystem that runs on its own rhythm, regardless of the tourist season.
In autumn Masuria takes on a completely different mood from the summer — wilder, quieter and more intense.