ROEBUCKS FIGHTING 
British Deer and their Horns 
two youngsters going for the big buck most savagely, and repeatedly hitting him in the sides. 
On his approach the two assailants made off, but presently returned after he had left the 
scene, and finished off their object of aversion. When Ross found the dead buck, whose 
head he gave me, and which I afterwards gave to C. Macpherson Grant, he described the 
body as being literally a mass of stabs all over. 
The season when roe ordinarily fight is of course in July and August, but it is distinctly rare 
to see them do so. In fact, I think roe have an aversion to lighting, nor is it generally necessary, 
as they only require one mate apiece, and they know where to find her. When, however, 
they do come to blows they are most savage and determined in their conflicts. The fight 
generally begins with a charge at each other and the usual fencing with the heads, which, by 
the way, are kept very low , almost touching the ground. They frequently draw back, and 
making a pounce forward, endeavour to pin each other to the ground. This seems to be the 
roebuck’s main method of attack. If you go into a pen, or put a dog in with a roebuck, he 
will do just the same. Another attitude when he is fighting is to get on his hind legs like a 
goat and try to strike his adversary, also standing up, with an upper cut under the flank. 
A roebuck at the season of love and war displays an even greater amount of savagery, if 
he thinks there is another buck about, than a stag does. He will thrash a bush or a peat-hag 
all to pieces in his blind fury, and seems to lose all self-control. I was stalking at Guisachan 
in August 1891, and was coming home one evening without having had a shot all day. 
Some sweet creatures on Mr. Winans’s ground had, with unsportsmanlike conduct which is 
happily rare in the Highlands, purposely scared the stag I was stalking on Lord Tweedmouth’s 
ground. There was one bit of ground called the “ Green Corrie ” on our way home in 
which a good stag often dwelt, but my companion said there was little chance of getting a 
shot there if a certain roebuck was on the hill-side to the north, for he invariably discovered 
the stalkers before the stags were aware of their presence and gave the alarm. I was 
