INQ UISITIVE HINDS 39 1 



seconds' further delay must have caused some of them 

 to wind me. Fortunately I was lucky enough to get 

 the stag by making a long shot of 200 yards, after half 

 a day's labour. He was a beauty, and the head the 

 best I shot that season. 



It is at times advisable to forego a stalk if the lead- 

 ing hind is inclined to be too inquisitive ; for if the stag 

 is a good one, and the leading hind comes down wind 

 far enough to see the stalker lying down, she will 

 probably take the stag away for the season, unless he 

 at the time happens to have a harem belonging to the 

 ground. Such has often happened by visitors in the 

 forest for a day only compelling the stalker to stick to 

 the stalk to the very last. Owners of forests, however, 

 know better, and if a stag is with hinds which really 

 belong to the ground, and the rutting season is just 

 commenced, the shooting such a troublesome hind 

 would probably ensure a shot at the stag a few days 

 later on, as happened to myself in Rhidoroch, When 

 a good stag is all but stalked, and such a hind makes 

 it evident that she is about to spoil everything by her 

 curiosity, I have found it answer to run away out 

 of sight, and to keep on running while in sight, now 

 and again stopping to look back. By pursuing such 

 tactics the deer will be observed to get together in 

 a lump, and only perhaps move up on to higher ground 

 to look at the stalker as he goes away down some pass ; 

 and this is by far the safest plan to adopt if there is 

 danger of a good stag, which is not settled with hinds, 

 being scared off the ground. 



If it is decided to shoot the leading hind, she should 

 be allowed to come far back and away from the feeding 

 herd, until she is quite close to the stalker, and in such 



