The open mouth shows stress. And they had got themselves in something of a pickle, running towards the woods beside the car park on a Saturday afternoon just as we started to emerge. They had obviously been disturbed elsewhere and panicked. Perhaps they were lying down peacefully in bracken when bilberry pickers appeared. Saturday afternoon is not the time for wild animals of their size to visit the car park alongside Hathersage Road. They don't like being out in the open so close to people and cut off from the trees. After changing direction three times they raced off towards the largest bracken bed, fortunately well away from the road.
The hinds on the hillside near the start of the day were more relaxed while still being alert.
Being the largest native wild animal and timid must make for a jittery sort of life, constantly ready to make off but never quite sure that you've not been seen. There were no signs of young deer with this group of hinds but just a few minutes before a regular sound was echoing through the woods. Could it have been the barking of an alarmed and protective hind?
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