As autumn sets and the leaves drop from the trees, the time is peak season to spot deer that inhabit Korea's mountainscape.

Four species of deer are native to the Korean peninsula. One, the sika deer, no longer exists in the wild, however it has been semi-domesticated and now bred on deer farms across the country - an unfortunate circumstance since the sika deer is the largest and most majestic of the species in Korea.

The roe deer can be found throughout Korea. The medium-sized animal is recognized by its black nose, white underchin and three-tined short antlers used in sparring with other bucks for territory. As the most social of the deer, they roam in small family groups. They are also portrayed on "go-stop" cards.

Of the last two, the musk deer has an endangered species status. Musk fragrance is one of the most expensive commodities of the natural world, with a value higher than gold. It is used in manufacturing perfumes and an ingredient in traditional Asian medicine. Only the male deer carries a musk "pod" and the illegal methods used to kill the deer do not discriminate between male and female. Trading musk is banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, yet South Korea remains as one of the principal importers in the global black market.

An opportunity to spot a musk deer is slim to none, yet chances are good to see another deer that is almost zoologically identical; the Korean water deer and the musk deer share many of the same physical characteristics. The musk deer population is doomed because it produces a coveted substance, yet Korean water deer have no special value, and thus are numberous across the country.

Those two deer are of the few species in the world that do not grow antlers; instead, they grow fangs. Both sexes grow canine-like incisors from the sides of their mouth with the males reaching eight centimeters long. These small "tusks" are used for grazing, rubbing saplings to mark territories and fighting during the rut season.

Both deer are petite, with hind legs longer than their forelegs, giving them a hunched appearance. Most of the year, they are solitary until the rutting season. However, when danger approaches, they emit a shrill bark to alert other deer.

Roe deer are found in the deep forest, whereas the water deer prefers brush-covered hillsides where the mountain meets the lowlands. Both breeds browse on a large variety of vegetation, exploiting the most nutritional forage in their range.

Most often hikers spook the deer into flight and will only catch a glimpse of the creature. To determine the difference between roe and water deer, look for the roe's white rump patch, bigger body and bounding away in stretching leaps. Water deer explode out of the brush like flushed giant rabbits and are easy to lose sight of in the foliage.

Both deer are most active at dusk and dawn, and during the day they hide in protective cover. Head out to the fields in early morning or at sunsets to increase your chances of observing these deer in the wild.

Copyright © James Card.