SPOTTED DEER 



herd, so down I went on my hands and knees, and crawl- 

 ing, occasionally wriggling along at full length, I eventually 

 reached the desired point. A peep at the herd satisfied me 

 that they were undisturbed, and my view of them was 

 clear, but I became ambitious, and ardently desired to reach 

 a small bush thirty yards nearer, so out I went for a crawl 

 once more. 



Before I had advanced three yards, however, I was de- 

 tected, and every animal was on the alert at once, those 

 lying down springing to their feet, and all gazing hard in 

 my direction. I instantly sat up, and, resting my elbows on 

 my knees, took a quick but steady shot at the buck, which 

 presented a lovely broadside chance, aiming behind the 

 shoulder. 



I heard a welcome thud, down went his head, and he 

 tore away full speed, disappearing from my sight behind 

 some bushes, the rest of the herd bolting in the opposite 

 direction to that taken by the buck. I and my men 

 hastened up, and soon found it lying dead under some 

 bushes not more than thirty yards from where it was hit, 

 and about thirty yards from the edge of the surrounding 

 forest. I then paced the distance carefully, making it no 

 yards, which is a very fair distance for this class of " park '' 

 shooting. 



Let me say here that when I get the chance for a steady 

 shot at a deer I take every possible opportunity of kneel- 

 ing, sitting, or lying down for my shot, or resting the rifle- 

 barrel over the fork of a tree branch or against the stem, 

 never taking an off-hand shot unless unavoidable or when 

 quickness is an object. Using, as I do, a .303, I shoot to 

 kill, not to see what a " clever shot " I am at off-hand 

 work, which might ojily result in a wounded animal. It is 

 not sport to shoot and merely wound ; therefore I say 



223 



