BISON SHOOTING 



man is entirely at the mercy of the wind. Where 

 the tracks go, he must follow, whether up or down 

 wind ; and sometimes for several days together he 

 will experience the disappointment of hearing the 

 bison dash off, having got his wind, without obtain- 

 ing a chance at them. This is a risk which must 

 be run, and against which no skill or knowledge 

 of woodcraft can protect anyone, and it is a very 

 severe handicap. 



It is essential in bison shooting (and, in fact, in 

 all big-game shooting in the forest) that the sports- 

 man's movements should be as noiseless as possible, 

 and, of course, he should never utter anything louder 

 than a low whisper. 



His boots should be made without heels, and when 

 he knows that the game is near, he should advance 

 pointing his toes downwards as much as possible. 



In the flat forests of part of the Mysore district, 

 I often took a Pegu pony out shooting with me, 

 and unless we had to cross any obstacles over which 

 it would have been risky to take him, he frequently 

 followed me throughout the day. My plan was to 

 ride until we found tracks, when I dismounted. 

 Two Kurraba trackers, each carrying a rifle or gun, 

 and sometimes a third unencumbered by anything, 

 preceded me by two or three paces ; at some distance 

 behind me came two more with my luncheon bag 

 and drinkables ; and a long way behind the latter 

 again, came a third pair (or a single one), with the 

 syce (groom) leading the pony. 



The best time for bison shooting in the forests 

 of Mysore is during the south-west monsoon, which 



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