66 ON THE GRAMPIAN HILLS. 



In an early season the stags will be in full condition 

 from the 20th August until the 10th September. 



A sharp look-out has to be kept, in order to pre- 

 vent the shepherds from adjoining sheep-walks dis- 

 turbing the deer by running out their sheep, and 

 frightening the herd with their dogs, who, being thus 

 startled, will often clear right away from their pasture- 

 ground, and seek some more remote spot where they 

 can feed unmolested. 



In winter these animals are seldom, if ever, fed, 

 and in hard seasons die by scores. Being forced by 

 hunger to come down to the low ground in search of 

 food, they find their way to the sheep-troughs, and 

 are pelted with stones by the shepherds and driven 

 away, often to fall into the hands of poachers, who 

 will shoot them even when out of condition, for the 

 sake of their heads and horns. It would seem to be 

 a very false economy on the part of owners of deer- 

 forests not to make proper provision during the time 

 when the snow covers the ground for many weeks 

 together. The great secret of success in the working 

 of a deer-forest is having a thoroughly good stalker 

 who knows the favourite haunts of the deer, the state 

 of the ground, and the condition of the locality one 

 whose practised eye can discern by examination of the 

 slots of the animals the age, sex, and size of the deer 

 which are upon the ground. In most cases there is 

 not a tree or even a bush in the so-called deer-forests, 

 which are created by withdrawing the sheep which 

 have been fed on the land, and taking care that no 

 one disturbs "the sanctuary" which is reserved for the 

 pasturage of the red- deer. Good sport is often 

 obtained on grouse- moors which adjoin deer-forests, 



