BIG GAME SHOOTING OF KASHMIR, 49 
they will work their way to the lower part of the range. When close to the top, 
the beaters firea gun or shout, the herd breaks into a gallop, and dashes wildly 
down the southern side. i here in the grass are set long lines of plaited nooses 
made of sound leather and attached to ropes which are in lengths of about 50 
or 60 yards, These ropes are pegged down, but not too strongly. The deer get 
their feet entangled in the nooses, drag up the pegs, and make off with a line of 
rope and nooses, but before going far they are pulled up by the bushes, and 
it is then the fun begins for nets have to be employed. Stags are easier than 
hinds to net, for as a rule they lower their heads, and the horns get into the 
meshes, but the hinds use their feet and strike out violently. 
Once in the nets, the hard work is over, a collar with ropes on opposite sides 
is fixed on the neck, and the hinds can be led away. The stags have 
generally to be picketed on the spot, otherwise they plunge about and knock 
themselves and their captors out of time. In a day or two the deer will drink 
water in which parched flour has been mixed. They are easily tamed, and 
seldom die. 
Another way, but a laborious one is to catch the fawns before they can run. 
First they are fed on goat’s milk squeezed from a sponge, then from a baby’s 
bottle, and finally a nanny goat is a foster mother. Most of the deer at Pandra- 
than paddocks were thus reared. In captivity the Hangul breeds freely. 
Barkine Deer—Muntiacus vaginalis. 
The Muntjac or Jungli Bakri has a very wide distribution, hence is well 
known to many sportsmen long before they come to Kashmir. 
This small deer is rarely to be met with in the ‘Vale’. One came out in a beat 
at Achabal, another was found by the State Shikar dogs in a small enclosure 
which wasround some rice stalks in the vicinity of Koolgam. Both these had 
probably strayed from the Pir-Panjal for the Barking deer is fairly common 
in the outer ranges. 
The horns obtainable in the hills of Jammu and Kashmir are smaller than 
those of the United Provinces, rarely exceeding five inches, whilst 6” to 7}” 
are recorded from Gharwal and elsewhere. 
Ifa specimen is required, it will most likely have to be got in the Jhelum valley 
near or below Chakoti, there the Barking deer was plentiful, but now is scarce. 
The head when artistically set up is pretty, especially when the neck is slightly 
curved. 
Tue Musk Derr 
Moschus moschiferous. 
The (Roos) of the Kashmiris—‘“‘ Kastoora ” of the United Provinces is more 
harried than is any other animal of the forest. Commerce calls for the musk 
pod and pays highly, hence every winter the shikaris issue out with nets, dogs 
and guns and kill this deer. 
Special laws are supposed to protect the Musk deer, and special license has 
to be obtained from the Game Preservation Department if the sportsman wishes 
for a specimen in order to complete a collection. 
The male is distinguishable from the female by canine teeth about 2” long 
which show very plainly, but remember it may only be shot under the special 
sanction. 
There are many Musk deer in the Rukhs, some are easily shot whilst driving 
is in progress, but the pursuit of them is not as a rule authorized. 
Recollections go back to the days when many Musk deer were to be seen here 
and there on the Ibex ground, and when a small bore rifle was used to bring 
them to bag and to the kitchen, for the venison is quite good eating. 
Tracking the sharp pointed slot in the snow was interesting, but there the 
sport ended, for the long hair on the skin is very easily broken and will not stand 
wear and tear. ’ 
(Z'o be continued.) 
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