THIS is the moment two young deer staged a bout of kangaroo-style boxing during a display of male aggression.

Ray Whitfield, a member of the Daily Echo Camera Club, was photographing wildlife in the New Forest when he got more than he bargained for.

The fallow deer were grazing with four others on the former RAF airfield at Stoney Cross when they reared up on their hind legs.

As they sparred near one of the old runways, the pair almost seemed to be dancing.

But the eye-catching display lasted only a few seconds and neither deer was hurt, suggesting the encounter could have been nothing more than simple play-fighting.

Mr Whitfield said: “I wandered around for about 15 minutes taking pictures of deer eating the grass and enjoying the evening sunshine.

“Two of them suddenly reared up and start dancing or boxing. I thought ‘wow that looks good’ and started taking photographs as quickly as I could.

“It was a bit of a floppy fight that only lasted about five seconds. Hooves were flailing and there was a bit of head-on-head.

“One of them appeared to back down and they both walked away with a ‘nothing to see here’ look on their face.

“I think it must have been a male aggression thing but there was no sign of any injuries – no blood or missing fur.”

Married with two children, Mr Whitfield, 57, of Eastleigh, has been a photographer for most of his life.

He said: “I got my first decent camera 40 years ago and have drifted in and out of the hobby, but I’ve been really active for the past five years.”

The New Forest is full of deer – a legacy of William the Conqueror’s decision to turn the area into a royal hunting ground.

Fallow deer are normally at their most aggressive during the mating season (rut), which starts in late September and peaks in mid October.

Both sexes live in single-sex groups for most of the year, only getting together during the rut.