THE DEERSTALKER 239 



gone south, you are left a good deal to your own devices. 

 You have the long winter to get through, which, of 

 course, must be more or less monotonous in your isolated 

 lodge, but if you are a good man, you will find plenty to 

 keep you occupied watching your deer in the heavy 

 snowdrifts, and doing what you can for them. You will 

 also very often have hinds l to kill, and, next to stalk- 

 ing the stag himself, what better sport could you wish 

 for ? Then, when the New Year comes round, you can 

 spend many an hour watching for good stags to shed 

 their horns, for these, and many other little items, such 

 as skins, etc., are looked upon as the stalker's per- 

 quisites. 2 



On the Deterioration of Heads 



Before concluding, I would like to make a few re- 

 marks on a subject that hardly comes under the heading 

 of " The Duties of a Stalker," but yet must be a most 



1 This question of hind-shooting is of primary importance in its 

 applicability to the improvement of stock. We leave out of count alto- 

 gether the question of good venison, which ought to be secondary to the 

 desire to assist the general welfare of the forest. In keeping this in view, 

 the main point to be attended to is the destruction of old hinds, whose 

 calves are in ninety per cent, of cases feeble and unhealthy, and, in the 

 opinion of many authorities, chiefly females. The stalking gillie is too 

 apt to lose sight of the primary object of his work, and to select well- 

 conditioned hinds, instead of the decrepit females before mentioned. 

 " It has been proved," says one writer, " that ninety per cent, of yeld hinds 

 killed would have had stag calves in the ensuing season. Thus, every 

 ten yeld hinds killed mean a loss of nine prospective stags to the forest." 

 On this account yeld hinds should be left alone. P. J. M. 



2 Every young stalker should procure, if possible, a small copy of 

 Mr. Grimble's excellent book on Deerstalking. In it he will find a fund 

 of information. 



