5 8 Deer Breeding for Fine Heads 



cripple for the rest of his life, and he will never afterwards tackle 

 another buck. Sometimes several bucks set on an old one and 

 kill him outright. 



One day I saw two big bucks out in the park, one lying 

 down and the other standing beside him. As the one lying 

 down seemed to be wounded, I took a rifle and went out to see 

 what was the matter. 



When I got near, the buck lying down got up and hobbled 

 along a few steps with a fore-leg swinging loose, and then lay 

 down again, the other buck keeping close to him. 



I saw he had a broken shoulder, from fighting, so I shot him 

 through the neck. 



He staggered to his feet and then fell ; as he got to his feet 

 the other buck gave him a very vicious dig in the side, and even 

 as he lay dying was very loth to leave his victim. 



If I had not come on the scene, the conqueror would most 

 likely have kept on prodding at the wounded buck till he died, 

 following him round and hitting him whenever he got a chance. 



On one occasion I saw a buck parry a blow very neatly. It 

 was a hard winter and several bucks (they are less timid than 

 the does) had come under the dining-room window, from which 

 I was throwing them bread. 



One buck while putting his head down to take a piece of 

 bread was suddenly attacked by another, who struck at his side ; 

 the buck attacked had no time to swing round to avoid the blow, 

 so he threw up his head, and thus covered his heart, at which 

 the other buck was aiming, with the palmation of his horn of 

 that side. 



