CROSSING WATER 387 



or more in an uncomfortable position ; but the slightest 

 movement is fatal on such occasions, for the broken 

 surface of the water is at once detected. Althousfh 

 deer may be a long distance from the stalker, the latter 

 should never enter water up wind, and it is always 

 safer to enter a burn a long way down-wind from the 

 deer, and work up to them either in or outside the 

 burn, according to circumstances. If anything hap- 

 pened to frighten the deer during the stalk, they might 

 possibly cross the wind up the burn to the very spot 

 where it might be wished to cross over to them. 



If there is sufficient daylight remaining, and the 

 ground admits of it, it is always safer to commence 

 stalking as far down-wind as possible. I have more 

 frequently lost than gained by making too bold a 

 stalk, for there is always a danger of moving deer 

 which may be further down-wind than those which are 

 being stalked. However, it happens now and again 

 that it is necessary to resort to desperate measures, 

 owing to the nature of the ground, or other deer 

 being in the way. There are so many things to be 

 considered, and circumstances vary so much, that 

 nothing but experience can determine the particular 

 line of action which it may be necessary to adopt, 

 and theory is utterly useless. 



Some forests are much more difficult to stalk than 

 others. Round hills are also the most difficult, and 

 as a rule such ground necessitates shooting at longer 

 range than where hills are rough, pointed and high, in 

 which latter event the deer will be found on the sides, 

 the heavy stags being below them, and the hinds will 

 be on the look-out higher up. When such is the case, 

 it is the best plan for the stalker to get up above the 



