9 2 Deer Breeding for Fine Heads 



when they do not know the park, they may seriously hurt them- 



* 



selves. 



As already stated, deer should never be turned out during the 

 rutting-season, as the other stags will surely kill any new-comer. 



Moreover, take care not to turn them out near any gate leading 

 out of the park they remember where they were turned out, and 

 will return there, and if the spot is near a gate, they will try to get 

 out of, or over that gate, and make a bolt for it as soon as it is 

 opened. 



Deer will work all round the park during the first few days 

 trying where there is an opening through which they can get out, 

 so all such places must be carefully seen to before the animals are 

 let loose. Places quite safe against the deer which are already 

 in the park, 'the new-comers, if there is the least weakness, will be 

 sure to find out, when they may not only get out themselves, but 

 lead others to follow. 



I once had a fallow buck who was so clever at finding" weak 

 spots in the fence through which to get out, that I had to shoot 

 him, as he was teaching the others to follow his malpractice. 



All gates in a park, where there is a right-of-way, should be 

 made to swing and fasten of themselves by one of the various 

 forms of gravity hinges ; i.e. those in which the weight of the 

 gate is lifted in opening, while in settling down again to its 

 lowest level it automatically shuts. 



In the case of small wickets, the gate may shut by a spring, 

 and should open in a semicircular paling, so that no deer can 

 squeeze its body in and thus get through. 



I do not much care for ladders leading over the fence, as I 



