HINTS ON TIGER SHOOTING 



monkeys or peacocks are heard giving their peculiar cry 

 of alarm, it may be safely assumed that there is a tiger 

 or panther in the beat. 



Assuming that the drive has been properly managed, 

 there should be no difficulty in bagging the tiger, for it 

 is a large mark to fire at and will probably come along at 

 a jog trot or slow walk. Care should however be taken not 

 to fire at it too hurriedly and certainly not until it is well 

 opposite the post (tree or ledge of rock) so as to make a 

 certainty of him. 



If the sportsman fires too excitedly or too soon he will 

 probably miss or, worse still, merely wound the animal, 

 which would then most likely break back on to the beaters, 

 who, it must be remembered, are usually only armed with 

 sticks, striking down any so unfortunate as to be in its 

 way, and possibly inflicting fatal injuries. Hence in tiger 

 hunting random shooting should never be indulged in ; 

 on the contrary, every shot fired must be well considered 

 and intended to strike a vital spot. 



Should the tiger unfortunately get away wounded, it 

 must be followed at all costs, though not necessarily at 

 once. And it is here that the value of an elephant comes 

 in, for it is obviously safer for the sportsman to follow 

 mounted on an elephant than on foot. Nevertheless, I 

 maintain that the absence of an elephant is no excuse for 

 abandoning the pursuit, though I have often heard it said 

 that to follow a wounded tiger on foot is what no sane 

 sportsman should do. 



I have no wish to take up a hostile attitude in this 

 matter, nor do I pretend to the possession of a courage 

 greater than that required of any ordinary sportsman, 

 but I do not consider any man should wage war with 

 savage beasts unless he is prepared to take some sporting 

 risks, and it is not a very sportsmanlike proceeding to leave 

 a wounded animal in the jungle perhaps to die a lingering 

 death no matter whether the beast is a tiger or a hare ! 



Moreover, I maintain that if proper precautions be 

 observed, a wounded tiger may be followed up on foot 

 without excessive risk. In the first place it should be given 

 time to bleed to death or for its wounds to stiffen so as to 

 render the animal less effective. Then, before advancing, 



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