Please note that our philosophy is that animals must be respected in their land and habitat. These are very special moments for the animals, so if you plan to visit just because of a trend, that is not the type of traveller we aim to have.

Every autumn, in the beech forests of the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise, a sound moves through the valleys: something between a roar and a groan, deep enough to feel before you consciously hear it. It is the bramito, the call of the male red deer during the autumn rut, one of the more moving things you can encounter in the Apennines, and also one that asks something of us in return: patience, distance, and a willingness to simply listen.

What the bramito actually is

From September into October, male red deer bellow to assert territory and call to potential mates, one of the most demanding periods in their year. The sound echoes through the park's valleys, sometimes answered from a ridge away by another stag doing the same. It is not something that happens for an audience. It happens because it is the season, whether or not anyone is there to hear it, and that is part of what makes it worth approaching gently.



The red deer population here is itself a quiet success story. The species had disappeared from this stretch of the Apennines and was reintroduced starting in the early 1970s. It has grown steadily since, and in recent years some deer have grown comfortable enough to wander to the edges of villages like Villetta Barrea and Civitella Alfedena. It is a lovely thing to witness, and also a good reminder that these animals share this landscape with people all year, long after autumn ends.

How we like to think about it

At borGO, we care about the places and creatures we bring people close to, not only the moments themselves. The rut is a private, important part of the deer's year, not a performance, and we would rather help you experience it with care than treat it as something to tick off a list. That usually means an early start, a good distance, and time spent simply listening rather than trying to get close.



How to enjoy it respectfully

The park's own guidance is a good place to start: keep a comfortable distance, stay quiet, and never approach or feed the animals. Going with someone who knows the terrain and the deer's patterns well helps you stay at a distance that keeps everyone, animals included, at ease. Dawn and dusk are when the calls travel furthest and the mountains are at their quietest, which makes for a beautiful, unhurried outing in its own right. Bring binoculars rather than the hope of getting close. Hearing a call answered from a valley you cannot see into is often the most memorable part of the whole morning.

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