DEER ON OPEN GROUND. 171 



the only level ground worth still-hunting at all. And 

 even there the clumps of brush must be thick, and 

 there should be a good breeze in your face. Then 

 the valley will generally be the best place to walk. 



So far we have considered deer on foot in the low 

 ground. Its advantages for walking when deer are 

 lying down are often much greater. Unless you 

 have the aid of snow as a background it is almost 

 impossible to see deer lying down in a valley; for if 

 the day be warm the deer will certainly lie in the 

 shade either of a bush or trees, in either of which 

 cases you will have a task to see them if you are 

 on the hills. Moreover, if the hills are high they 

 probably will not start from their beds even if 

 they see you. And if they do start you are at a 

 great disadvantage. You probably will not jump 

 them close enough for any sort of a shot, and they will 

 be almost certain to run across the valley or up or 

 down it all bad shots for one on the hill. On the 

 other hand, if you are in the valley you will be quite 

 certain to start them, and they will be quite apt to 

 give you a fair shot ; for a deer running from some- 

 thing in a valley is quite apt to run up hill, and when 

 running up hill a deer is quite apt to stop two or 

 three times in going up, and is almost sure to stop at 

 the top for a final look. If you are on a hill and start 

 a deer, it is because he sees you and knows exactly 

 what you are. He has no more curiosity, and is con- 

 cerned only about effecting his disappearance. But if 

 you are in the valley and he starts, it is nearly always 

 because he hears you. In such case he does not know 

 certainly what made the noise and has a strong de- 

 sire to know, to which desire, if not too much hunted, 

 he will be apt to yield. 



