BIG GAME 63 



By taking time, studying the wind, and taking 

 advantage of every scrap of cover and carefully watch- 

 ing the game itself, if the country allows one to do 

 so, a man can get remarkably close up. All this 

 requires practice, and a keen man will soon find him- 

 self falling into the habits and actions of his experienced 

 tracker. 



In open country keep the eyes and senses to wind- 

 ward ; in hilly country stalk the game from above. 

 Most animals, unless they have scented danger, watch 

 the hills and plains below them. In country with 

 alternate forest and open patches endeavour to keep 

 in the forest, preferring to skirt right round rather than 

 cross the open, and even in forest keep close to the 

 larger trees, so that should game be sighted one is 

 near to good cover. 



If it is proposed to work a stretch of thinly wooded 

 or grassy and broken country, as for instance grassy 

 sand-dunes along the coast, a detour should be taken 

 right round, so as to take it up wind ; this often has 

 to be done to get hold of the smaller deer and antelope 

 when they have lain up for the day. 



Wounded Game. — Of course, in following any 

 wounded game these rules cannot be always applied, 

 and one has to work according to the circumstances, 

 but it must always be remembered that wounded game 

 will often, after crossing an open piece of ground, 

 stand just inside the cover on the farther side, waiting 

 to see if the sportsman is following, so that before 



