In many myths and legends, deer seem to be the embodiment of gods, and their arrival always seems to save people in distress, bringing luck and opportunity.
How long have you lived in the city since you encountered wild animals or even come into close contact outdoors? As winter turns to spring, put on your gear and enjoy a long-lost outdoor experience while stepping into the forest and wildlife park for a natural deer hunt.
Hidden in Ireland's Royal Deer Park
If there's one thing to do in Dublin, it's a deer watching trip to Pheonix Park.
Located on the north bank of the River Liffey northwest of Dublin city centre, Phoenix Park was founded in 1663 and covers 1760 acres. It is also home to Europe's largest city park and the Royal Deer Park. Home to wild deer since the 17th century, they still live a quiet and peaceful life in Phoenix Park, so much so that the Irish government is lobbying UNESCO to designate the park a World Heritage Site.
Phoenix Park is a vast area, you can choose to rent a bicycle or carriage at the entrance to start this deer hunting tour in the park, shuttling through large areas of grass and ancient trees, and resting by the two natural lakes when tired, watching the swans and pelicans in the lake in a daze.
After centuries of change, Phoenix Park still maintains its original beauty centuries ago, without any artificial facilities and modern industrial invasion, this pristine vast plain has always been filled with fresh air and pure beauty.
Deer herds generally inhabit the outer edge of the park, a canyon covered with dense forests, and nearly 1,000 sika deer live in a green grass of about 15 acres all year round, gathering in groups on the grass, and if someone approaches with food, these fearless fawns will run to you excitedly. You can follow the locals and come here early in the morning to hunt for deer, this time is not crowded, you can quietly and leisurely watch the deer graze and stroll in the morning mist.
An idyllic trip to the countryside in the English countryside
London is perhaps the best big city for outdoor enthusiasts, with about a third of the city covered by parks and green spaces, whether it's basking in the sun on the lawn at noon on weekdays, running and walking your dog in a park large and small on an afternoon, or going on a hike in the countryside on the weekend, the familiar outdoor experience in London has become part of everyone's daily life.
Richmond Park is London's largest and best wild-environment suburban park, and in addition to its beautiful English countryside, the main attraction here is the occasional encounter with wild deer.
This "paradise" in the west suburbs of London, which is seven times larger than Hyde Park in the city center, still maintains a pristine ecology, inhabiting hundreds of species of birds, endless grasslands like green oceans, ancient tall woods like "forbidden forests" in the magical world, squirrels and animals frolicking in the bushes, you can feel the ultimate nature and relaxation.
In Richmond Park, late summer and early autumn is the best time to encounter deer, there are more than 600 elk and deer, they will generally walk in the thick shade, leisurely graze, rest, stroll, if you encounter a herd of deer, remember to keep a distance of more than 25 meters from them, especially the deer are very timid, too close a distance will make them frightened. Elk, on the other hand, are more daring, they are also curious about humans, and they can get a little closer to shoot.
Richmond Park is so large that it may take a little time to find the deer, so pack your gear and wear a pair of comfortable sneakers to embark on an outdoor activity in the endless wilderness and enjoy the calm and elegant atmosphere of this pristine atmosphere.
Hidden in Düsseldorf's "Animal Forest"
One of several large parks in Düsseldorf, the Wildpark in the Grafenberger Forest was created in 1927 as one of the oldest amusement parks in Germany, covering an area of about 36 hectares and inhabited by more than 100 animals including red deer, fawn, European sheep, wild boar and pheasant, and is a niche viewing place where you can meet furry friends.
Wildpark Grafenberger Wald is easily accessible from downtown Düsseldorf and free admission, making it a top choice for many locals on weekend family getaways. Unlike other wild parks, some of the animals in it can be fed in moderation, and you only need to look for signs in the park that can be fed, so you can see tourists with carrots and apples anytime and anywhere in the park, and they are in close contact with the animals, interacting and feeding, as if falling into a fairy tale.
Focusing on the local ecology, Wildpark only displays native animal species, and covers free-range areas and animal pens with a beech forest that is more than 200 years old, making the park feel like an ancient wonderland. Walking here, people's minds are gradually freed from the busy city life and fully feel this moment of tranquility.
In addition to feeding animals, Wildpark is also a natural oxygen bar suitable for exercise. Once in the park, follow the trail and you'll find a variety of fitness and parkour equipment, including horizontal bars, rowing machines, and stationary bikes. Fitness equipment and the natural nature of the forest make it an ideal place for outdoor exercise, and there are benches and picnic pavilions in different parts of the forest for people to relax.
Compared with other deer watching parks, Wildpark is more suitable for travelers to hunt for deer "light travel", you don't need to spend too much time and mind looking for them in the park, just bring good food, follow the sign into the park, you can start your day of natural relaxation.
Veteran deer viewing paradise: Nara Park, Japan
When it comes to deer watching, I believe that most people will first think of Nara Park, which is not only a paradise for wild deer, but also cherry blossoms, ancient temples and legends that have been passed down from ancient times to the present day make it feel like a god surrounded by deer.
Located on the east side of Nara City Street, Nara Park is a vast area that also houses many of the places of interest such as Mount Wakakusa, Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and the National Museum. As early as Meiji 21 (1888), Nara Park has become a prefectural park, one of the pioneers of modern parks in Japan, and in Taisho 11 (1922) it was officially designated as a national scenic spot in Japan. While watching the deer, these monuments are also tourist attractions not to be missed.
In 710, Emperor Genmei moved the capital to Heijo-kyo, also known as Nara, when the Takeo Hammer rode the white deer to the present-day Kasuga Taisha Shrine, where the deer had lived in Nara Park since that distant time and were therefore known as messengers of the gods. Legend has it that the people of Nara believe that those white-haired deer are descendants of messengers of the gods, and if you are lucky enough to see them in the park, it means that luck will come.
The deer in Nara Park seem to have long been accustomed to living in symbiosis with humans, and they are not afraid to see the deer strolling around and interacting with people as soon as they enter the parking lot. At first glance, it looks like a strayal into the kingdom of the deer, and humans are the guests who break into this mysterious world.
Visitors can buy a glutinous rice biscuit for feeding deer in advance, "Deer Senbei". When entering the park, these astute deer will smell whether people have "deer fairy shells", ask for it, and in an instant they will be surrounded by a herd of deer.
It should be noted that although these wild deer are lively and close to people, they cannot be "provoked" at will, and they must always have respect for all creatures, which is the way for humans to live in harmony with nature.
"Yo you deer song, wild artemisia."
Leave now, go to the wild to find deer, go to the wilderness to breathe; Escape the hollowness of contemporary life, find those long-lost outdoor experiences, and immerse yourself in the life-giving realism of nature.
Image: Netmap (invasion and deletion)