156 DEER-STALKING 



As a rule, and unless your dog is exceptionally 

 good, it is not advisable to slip him until the wounded 

 beast has separated from his companions ; even then 

 it may save trouble if you allow the dog to follow the 

 track on the cord for a bit. He may be loosed when 

 a ridge is reached, or some spot which commands a 

 wide view. This is the more to be recommended, as 

 slipping the dog often means that the slipper must 

 prepare for a run as well, and if the former gets a long 

 start up hill it may be difficult to follow him, for the 

 dog gets over the ridge long before the panting gillie 

 is half-way up, and when there he may not know 

 which way to go. 



It is sometimes difficult to know where a stag is 

 hit. When a bone is broken the beast of course 

 shows it. If hit in the body he generally sickens and 

 lies down. If touched at the base of the horn, the 

 back of the skull, or the top of the shoulder, he often 

 drops to the shot but gets up, shakes himself, and is 

 off as strong as ever. It is not wise to take for granted, 

 because you see blood, that a deer is badly wounded. 

 A flesh wound in the shoulder or haunch often causes 

 an amount of bleeding that leads the inexperienced 

 sportsman to believe the wound is severe, and to 

 insist on the dog being loosed. The wary forester 

 ought to resist any such invitation, if he is careful of 



