Listening to the deer's bellow in the Grésigne forest

Sainte-Cécile-du-Cayrou
Culture and Heritage

Autumn is a magnificent season that heralds the arrival of a unique and powerful sound spectacle : the bellowing of the deer. Each year, these incredible cervids give voice between mid-September and mid-October, establishing themselves as "the Princes of the Forest". Live an unforgettable experience in the Grésigne forest in the Tarn and listen carefully, the bellowing of the deer is an incomparable sound.

The roar of the deer, the mating season announced in the Grésigne forest

The breeding season for does is quite short, which is why stags do not fail to shout their lungs out through the forests to attract females to mate. Hoarse and resounding, the bellow is the expression of the strength and virility of the stag who seeks at the same time to intimidate his competitors. This impressive noise resonates between the trees, an inimitable sound that announces the courtship of these magnificent cervids. Open your eyes wide, but above all listen carefully, the well-hidden stags are difficult to observe, revealing their position to the coveted does by a languorous bellow.

Complete your photo album with magnificent shots of the Tarn region.

The Grésigne forest, the ideal place to listen to the roar of the deer in the Tarn

The Grésigne forest is a nature reserve of more than 3,000 hectares that is home to exceptional wildlife including nesting birds, carnivores, wild boars and deer. Renowned for being the largest oak forest in the Midi-Pyrénées, it is crossed by many trails, including the GR46, a popular hike. In the fall, the deer's bellow is the forest's unmissable event, a sound show sung for 1 month by the deer who are unaware that they are the stars of the season. A solex outing, a ride organized by the ONF (National Forestry Office), a morning excursion with breakfast in the forest or a night-time escapade followed by dinner around the fire, choose your favorite option, but above all, stay discreet.

After an emotional day, continue your discovery of the Tarn with a visit to a pretty medieval village, Castelnau-de-Montmiral, or the fortified town of Puycelsi.

The deer's bellow, some instructions to follow to listen to it

The deer is a wild animal that can be aggressive if it feels threatened, especially during the breeding season when it is in rut. It is therefore preferable to be discreet to avoid being attacked, by respecting a few instructions when entering the forest:

Park your car further away, avoid slamming the doors and join the paths quietly
Avoid sources of light (telephone, car headlight, flashlight)
Put your phone on silent
NO SMOKING
Forget scent, deer have a keen sense of smell.
Do not leave any waste behind that could disturb deer or pollute the forest.

The deer's bellow can be heard most of the time from 6 p.m. until dawn. Bring warm clothes and walking shoes to experience this expedition in the best conditions.

A few kilometers away, the Château de Penne awaits you for another unmissable visit to the Tarn.

A pleasant escape in the Tarn during the rutting season

Take advantage of the mating season to escape to the Tarn! The Grésigne forest is surrounded by pretty towns and villages with gîtes, guest houses or hotels perfect for welcoming you in autumn for this special event:

Castelnau-de-Montmiral 10 minutes away ;
Penne 15 minutes away ;
Vaour 10 minutes away ;
Bruniquel 20 minutes away ;
Puycelsi 20 minutes away ;
Larroque 20 minutes away ;
Gaillac 25 minutes away ;
Cordes-sur-Ciel 30 minutes away...

Before leaving, remember to contact the ONF, the hunters' federation or a tourism organization to experience an unforgettable moment in the heart of the forest. The deer's bellow will leave you with a memorable memory, the beginning of a great adventure in the Tarn that still has some great surprises in store for you.

Are you curious? Get some height by visiting the hilltop villages of Tarn.