DEER -STALKING. 39 



escape altogether. If struck too far back, a deer may 

 sometimes run for half a day, and the wound has even 

 been known to heal up, but is more likely to prove fatal 

 the next day. When a deer is discovered lying down, in 

 such a situation that he might dip out of sight the moment 

 he rises, and only his horns are visible, the sportsman 

 should advance with extreme caution until the deer hears 

 him, when he will most likely slowly raise and turn his 

 head before springing up. Now is the time to shoot 

 him between the eye and the ear. 



The most propitious day for deer-stalking is a cloudy 

 one with blinks of sunshine: exactly such as you would 

 choose for fishing. When the sky is cloudless, and the 

 sun very dazzling, the herd are apt to see you at a great 

 distance, and take alarm. High and changing wind is 

 always very bad, as it keeps, them moving about in a wild 

 and uneasy state. In such weather it is better, if possible, 

 to wait till it settles a little, and take advantage of the first 

 calm. If the breeze be light, they will not move much, 

 but a strong steady wind lasting for some days will always 

 make the deer change their ground, by facing it often for 

 miles. Mist is the worst of all, as the deer are pretty sure 

 to see you before you see them. Always advance on deer 

 from above, as they are much less apt to look up than 

 down a hill. If possible, have the sun at your back, and in 

 their face. With this advantage you may even venture to 

 approach them from below. (Birds, on the contrary, 

 always look up, and it is best to stalk them from lower 

 ground.) If it is a quiet shot, and the sun is at your back, 



