78 THE DEER FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. 



had charge of the middle one. It is a fine open 

 "rolling" country and without any very rocky hills; 

 some of them are yet thought by many to be 

 quite high enough before the top is reached. They 

 range from 1,500 feet up to 3,000 feet, but they 

 are big "lumps" of hills and do not rise to jagged 

 peaks ; for this reason they are in places somewhat 

 bare of stalking cover, and more often than not 

 long shots have to be taken — that is, at distances 

 ranging from 1 20 to 200 yards. 



There is no sanctuary and no wood for wintering, 

 and many of the Invermark deer seek shelter in 

 the dense woods of Glen Tana and Glenmuick, 

 while a few come down to the grouse ground at 

 Invermark, and the banks of the North Esk, on 

 which there is a certain amount of natural wood. 

 The forest will carry three rifles daily. The south 

 beat is the best, and between the other two there 

 is nothing to choose. There are good pony paths 

 in the forest, and the one that winds up "The 

 Drum" is of a nearly sensational character. This 



