This morning I had a one off experience of unknown cause (to me) with a montjak today so Im posting this to see if anyone can identify either a 'cause' or 'probablility' of a cause of this montjaks vocalization, some details below of cirumstances below:

I have been using this wildwood exercise area randomly for decades eg 3 times this past 7-10 days. I hear occasional montjak barks so nothing unusual in those, roe deer are the only other deer species
in the place, plenty other wildlife. I hardly ever see people or other dogs weekdays, except maybe weekend days I might hear or see someone else & their dog.

So thats a description of the place, appx 33 miles west of london (Bucks).

Today I had more or less finished the walk & sat on a log to finish the coffee flask. After appx 5 mins this monjak barking started, the main difference between today & all other montjak experiences over previous decades is that it did not stop for at least 6 mins & there was another noise other than the barking call at intermittent intervals. After I got up to walk off there was no change in the place it seemed to be coming from & no sign of any action or anything else when I got up & started to walk away.

Finaly, my dog showed no  unusual response to it at all, she was watching the environment whilst I finished my coffee, when it started she simply looked in the direction & soon simply continued scanning the place as normal. Montjak can take a dog out if they attack, they have no breeding season & breed anytime.

So, can anyone give some info as the why's & wherefors of this one off event? the vid clip, is only 6 mins & there is a change in the vocalization type sometimes.

https://youtu.be/5p_2PngYJ4E
.

I take it you are referring to Muntjac deer...............in which case it could possibly be mating behaviour, this

http://www.bds.org.uk/muntjac.html

states they do not have the specific breeding season that other species do

I take it you are referring to Muntjac deer...............in which case it could possibly be mating behaviour

Yes thats possible but I dont know what their mating call is like, I just never heard one go on & on like that before especially that unusual/unknown to me vocalization it made at intermittent intervals, it did cross my mind that it might have been calving, if it was calving it would be a very serious danger to my dog & me as well, I walked out past the spot it seemed to in the day before but when i heard all that I diverted around it, I just wondered if anyone could definatly identify those 2 types of vocalization.
Wild woodland is a very, very high value 'reward' saturated environment for many dogs but they also have very serious inherant risks, the more that an owner knows about the risks decisions about movement might can decrease the risk factors & where to go or not may become safer, nothing is garunteed in an uncontrolled environment.
I was in the same place the day before & has the unusual experience of hearing/seeing in the distance some dog owners searching for a lost dog (I assume), seemingly they either took chance with a dog which had not been OB (obedience trained) to recall from the numerous reward distractions inherant in wild wood lands & the potential dangers of a deer attack on dogs at this time of year, Roe deer do have a breeding season & now calves are probably around-see relevant vids including a roe deer attack on a dog & admins post on munjacs 2013.

Despairing Lost Dog Owners (Sat 16th May 2015)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wfA_NR9r5k

Muntjac or Chinese deer bite on dog
http://tinyurl.com/derosn

Admin wrote – 16.10.13, 11:15
Muntjac are known for being aggressive if surprised or cornered by dogs. Dogs with brains give them a wide birth
http://forum.champdogs.co.uk/topic_show.pl?tid=142155
.

The risks and dangers of Deer attacks on dogs at this time of year (breeding season, muntjac excluded) are illustrated in this unplanned vid clip of a Roe deer attack on a dog. Motto, never take deer populated country as a 'for granted' place of safety.

Deer attack on dog.
https://youtu.be/7rxLITvcmmA
.

I agree that it was looking for a female to mate. Muntjac are not monogamous and are solitary creatures mating at any time of the year. We get them in the woodlands by our static van and one will often come in during the evening barking and barking, going on for some considerable time before moving off to bark some place else. Probably can smell there is a female ready to mate near by and is hoping to impress her with his bark.

I agree that it was looking for a female to mate. Muntjac are not monogamous and are solitary creatures mating at any time of the year. We get them in the woodlands by our static van and one will often come in during the evening barking and barking, going on for some considerable time before moving off to bark some place else. Probably can smell there is a female ready to mate near by and is hoping to impress her with his bark.

Thanks, thats 2 posts indicating it was a mating call, do you/anyone know if they get more predatory aggressive in those periods? I know red deer do, in fact I think to many people see them all as benign, philanthropic entities rather than potential killers, no one place more lethal than Richmond park, the red deer there sometimes go for people without dogs.
.

I honestly don't know. Muntjacs usually run off if they see humans especially those with larger dogs, however, the males do have large tusks which they use for fighting other males, so could use them on dogs in theory.

in theory

Its more than theory Jodi, they do attack if they feel cornered or if they have fawns & see people or dogs near. I know a gamekeeper whose spaniel ended up with 30 stitches, it pushed into a bramble outcrop was bitten there, I've heard of a few cases similar although some of those involve shooters so their dogs are more likely to be into higher risk places.
.

> so could use them on dogs in theory.

I think the main issue and something that is relevant to anyone/everyone walking dogs (big or small) in a known 'deer area'  is the 'element of surprise'. If you surprise or corner a deer and it feels threatened, then it will attack if it can not escape. My friend was running her large GSD on her own land and the dog was checking out some cover and all hell broke loose. The dog had surprised a muntjac and was badly injured (puncture wounds). He lived to tell the tale but with the degree of damage and resulting infection, it was touch and go for a while. The message is a simple one, if you are in an area with deer (of any kind) don't assume that they will run away. Assume they won't and take avoidance action. Be vigilant and keep your dogs close to you and on a lead if you spot any deer. It isn't worth the risk.