BIG GAME SHOOTING OF KASHMIR. A7 
Half a century of wanderings after game gives curious instances of sport, 
Once or twice wandering stags have come to their fate, on other occasions faulty 
arrangements have caused the loss of good trophies. 
On a cold day in October a stag had been tracked for miles. It was wounded in 
the leg, at intervals it laid down. Twice it was blundered upon but did not give 
a chance and at last the tracking had to be given up. About ten o’clock on 
the same day, the time when deer return to the heights, having drunk in the 
streams below, the disappointed sportsman was sitting behind a rock when a 
stag called faintly at intervals. Then the sound increased, and eventually 
the foot fallcould be heard coming nearer and nearer. Through the dense 
forest a royal head appeared and emerged into the open, and the finest twelve 
tine stag obtained during many years’ shooting was easily killed. On another 
occasion an old stag came along a foot-path to within ten yards of the rifle 
which was pointing at it, but to slay it would have been unfair. Both these 
chances came about under similar circumstances, that is by waiting on a deer 
path below the cliffs where deer conceal themselves during the day. 
One of the finest ten-point heads was shot by mere chance. Late in the evening 
this stag was driven down hill by a messenger returning to the camp, and 
crossed the sportsman who was also going back to his tents. It galloped down 
hilland gave a long but clear shot. Luck was good, and although the dead stag 
rolled with great velocity down a grassy slope and fell with a thud into the rocky 
bed of the river below, not the least damage was done to the horns. 
Many tales could be told of successful sport, but it is well to relate failures, 
and the first of these to be told is how a famous fourteen-point stag got off 
unshot at ! 
As every one knows, stags fight in the rutting season. Many of these combats 
take place and as the clash of the horns causes a noise which travels far, it is not 
uncommen to have a chance of looking on whilst the stags settle their differences, 
For three days, the fourteen-pointer had been seen, but not in any place 
where a stalk was likely to succeed. On the fourth day two stags were fighting 
not far from the bivouac on a steep slope of grass surrounded by firtrees. The 
two were busily engaged with their horns locked—one was a strong, heavy- 
antlered ten-pointer and the other the fourteen-tined animal. For a time the 
horns were so closely locked, that the big stag could not be recognised. Suddenly 
the fight was suspended and now came the error of judgment for it was 
imagined that the fourteen-pointer must win, and if the victor, he would give an 
easy shot. 
The stags stood apart almost at the same level, when suddenly the ten-pointer 
managed to get alittle advantage on the hillslope, and dashed at his adversary 
hustling him down amongst the trees, and the chance of getting the trophy 
had vanished. Once only in the same jungles has the big headed beast been 
seen, and no one can now say what head of horns he carries, probably his 
prime will soon be over and the horns will be short and thin. 
A very disappointing termination of a stalk took place lately. At the time 
when the ‘stalkeress’ had reached the game a second stag showed itself and in 
response to an excited shikari’s entreaties of “‘ shoot, shoot” the small stag 
was shot, for the“‘ lady”? had not seen the big one! The Kashmir shikari is an 
excitable creature, and has to be restrained. 
This was the last adventure of the big stag, for he was brought to bag by 
another gun on the following day, and proved to be a beauty. 
Up to the last week in October, the advantage is with the sportsman. The stags 
are careless, they are in pursuit of the hinds, and it is even practicable to get them 
to draw near by breaking a dry stick, which they imagine to be the approach of a 
mate or perhaps a rival. Again some of the shikaris can imitate the roar or call, 
but this plan however seldom answers. Of course the hinds are on the alert 
