SCOTCH DEER-STALKING. 267 



It may be that a long detour may have to be made, 

 to keep out of sight, or because of the wind ; particular 

 note should therefore be taken, before starting, of some 

 remarkable object in the landscape, such as a rock, 

 tree, or hillock, which will enable the hunter to re- 

 cognise as nearly as may be the exact position where 

 the game is, should it be hidden from sight, after leaving 

 the place where he first marked it down. 



When circumstances give the option of doing so it 

 is always better to approach game from above, in hilly 

 districts. The most favourable wind therefore will be 

 a wind blowing from where they are, up-hill. 



Deer for instance (according to Mr. Grimble, an 

 acknowledged authority on deer-stalking in the Scotch 

 deer forests) always move up wind when feeding, and 

 when lying on a hill side are usually found to be 

 looking straight down-hill. * They rarely look up-hill, 

 he tells us, and therefore it is better if possible to stalk 

 down-hill. As regards this however it is well to observe 

 that wild animals of all kinds are, according to the 

 author's experience at any rate, always extremely 

 watchful of the sky-line, and instantly detect anything 

 in movement upon it; the greatest caution therefore 

 should always be used to avoid showing oneself where 

 it is possible for game to see the hunter in that po- 

 sition. Many shots are lost by sportsmen from neglect 

 of this precaution as for instance by crossing ridges 

 within sight of game lying down, which have escaped 

 the hunter's observation. When reconnoitring it is 

 therefore a good plan to come round the shoulder of 

 a hill slightly below its crest, in which position one is 

 less likely to be seen. 



* Deer- Stalking, by Augustus Grimble, 1886, p. 27. 



