Additional resting areas due to deer rutting

Monday 23 September 2024

Many people look forward to it during the summer, the deer rut that takes place in late summer. The male red deer are in top condition and compete vocally and physically with each other for the favours of the does.

To ensure that the rut runs smoothly, we have set up a number of additional resting areas from 1 September to 30 September. These provide the game with space to recover in peace, so that the already exhausting rut does not become even more exhausting for them. The map below shows in grey where these rest areas are located. In connection with this, some walking and riding routes are inaccessible or not accessible. See below which ones are concerned.

Walking routes that cannot be followed from 1 to 30 September

  • Veluws Zwerfpad Schaarsbergen – Otterlo and vice versa
  • Landschappenpad (due to closure Pampelse Zand)
  • IVN Moeflon walk
  • Otterlo lang
  • Otterlo kort

Footpaths with a diversion from 1 to 30 September

  • Veluws Zwerfpad Schaarsbergen - Hoenderloo and vice versa: middle section replaced by section over cycle path. 
  • Migratory bird path: in the middle section past the museum and the centre square instead of across the Pampelse Zand.

Equestrian routes not accessible from 1 to 30 September

  • All routes marked in red on the equestrian route map

All cycle paths remain open and so do the motorways, with the exception of the Reemsterweg leading to the Bosje van Staf.

Watch the rut

You can watch the rut at various places in the Park. You are most likely to see rutting scenes in the afternoon and early evening at our wildlife observation sites. You can find the public game observation sites on the map on our website or with a map of the Park. Is it too crowded at the wildlife observation site you want to visit or is there nothing to see at that time? Then take a look at one of the other wildlife observation sites or come back later.