Rutting season is the annual mating season for deer, triggered by the shorter days.
The ‘rut’ name comes from the sound the male deer make when they are attempting to attract female deer.
The males compete for the attention of females by battling with their antlers, as shown in these photographs, which can often cause huge damage or death.
Andy Pattenden, who has been photographing wildlife for years, said he captured these deer “in the depths of the New Forest”.
Andy said: “The location in the New Forest, which I try and keep to myself because I don’t want to disturb them, I get there early and wait.
“This time of year the males are not too shy but I still take the photos with a long zoom lens as I try no to get too close anyway.”
He added: “My process is turn up and hope really.
“I have been doing photography for years and when it happens it happens, I tried last year without luck.”
Andy described the feeling of getting this series of photographs as “fantastic.”
He said: “I got photos of a white male too, he wasn’t rutting, he was sort of wandering around.”
Andy said another fascinating part of the season is the noise that the male deer make.
He added: “They bark, when the deer are looking around you can hear them, they are not dissimilar to a dog.”