1 2 Deer Breeding for Fine Heads 



sides should be walled, not with open boards which let the wind 

 through, but solid, so that the wind cannot penetrate ; the fourth 

 side should be open to the south. 



Such a shed must be cleaned out occasionally, but the man who 

 does this, and who also goes in to feed and water the deer, must 

 be very careful of the stag, especially during the rutt ing-season, 

 and should always carry a pole with a short spike at the end with 

 which to protect himself. With some stags my man has found it 

 necessary to carry a wooden shield as well ; and if a stag be very 

 dangerous, wooden shelters built against the side of the fence to 

 enable the keeper to slip behind them (but too narrow for the stag 

 to be able to follow) are useful. The keeper can then make his 

 exit by climbing over the fence without exposing himself to the 

 enraged animal. 



Deer should always be provided with rock-salt to lick ; and a 

 small pond in which they can roll and plaster themselves with mud 

 as a protection against flies in summer is almost a necessity. A 

 running stream is the best for drinking water, but if this is 

 unattainable the water should be frequently changed. In my sheds 

 the rain-water from the roof is led by pipes into the drinking 

 troughs, and the overflow goes into the bathing pond. Care must 

 of course be taken that the mud at the bottom of the pond is not 

 so deep or sticky as to endanger the lives of the calves if they get 

 in too deep. 



One stag should not be allowed to run more than two or three 

 seasons with the same lot, of hinds; and in practice it is well to 

 change the stag every year, so as not to get the stock too inter- 

 bred. With old hinds a young stag is best, and vice versa. In 



