1 68 DEER-STALKING 



is by that time rather too far off for a neck shot and 

 you run the risk of haunching him. 



Two other suggestions may appropriately close 

 these remarks. Do not fire very long shots. The 

 effect is likely to be that you wound the deer, and still 

 more likely that you miss him. In either case the 

 stalker will come home happier if he had not fired a 

 shot. Lastly, when a stag drops to the shot instan- 

 taneously, he is probably hit on the top of the neck or 

 shoulder and only stunned. It is then advisable to 

 shove in another cartridge and get up to him with the 

 least possible delay. As soon as he moves, sit down, 

 taking a rest off your knees ; keep quite cool, and 

 fire as soon as a good chance is offered. If the 

 ground be steep and the distance reasonable, it may 

 be well to make ready from the place where you 

 originally got the shot rather than risk an uncom- 

 fortable position for the gain of only a few yards. 

 But all these matters must be determined by con- 

 siderations which must be dealt with on the spot, and 

 can only be discussed in a general way in a treatise 

 on stalking. 



