NEW ZEALAND DEER-STALKING 115 



wet under foot and the hills swathed in mist. A 

 walk of two hours brought us to the edge of the 

 bush. There was no roaring to guide us, but as 

 we passed along above its edge a fine stag walked 

 out and stood looking at us. 



" It's the big stag," said Buckley, " shoot him ! " 

 But I thought otherwise, and a look through the glass 

 confirmed my opinion. He was a good stag, however, 

 a nine-pointer, but not good enough to shoot with our 

 big beast, perhaps, waiting round the corner. It was 

 very hot and muggy, so on reaching a strip of under- 

 growth and bushes, we sat down to get cooled. All 

 this time the nine-pointer had stood within three 

 hundred yards watching us pass along the hill above 

 him, showing no signs of fear, and making no effort 

 to remove himself. 



Stags in the rutting season, especially those which 

 are looking for hinds, show very little fear of man, 

 and will often watch a stalker in full view without 

 attempting to move, as this one did. Having reduced 

 our temperature to its normal level we went on, and 

 almost immediately saw a hind's head silhouetted 

 against the sky-line. Buckley was in front and I 

 whispered to him to know if he could see the stag. 

 Before he could answer the hind came walking down 

 the hill and was followed by three more and a calf. 

 Then came a stag, and as he appeared, Buckley said, 

 " That's him ; wait till he comes down the gully." 



There was a little gully running straight down 

 into the bush within eighty yards of us, and down 



