WEIGHTS OF DEER. 57 



or so as good, if it be carefully shot, solely with a view 

 to quality and not quantity. As matters stand at 

 present, in many forests not a single Royal is bagged 

 the whole season, and there are not many that will yield 

 three or four ! 



In some parts of the Highlands hind shooting com- 

 mences as early as the 1st of November. Now sup- 

 posing that stag shooting ceases on the 10th of October, 

 why should not the owner begin to shoot hinds on the 

 15th ? It is but a fortnight before the recognized 

 period. . At this date it is certain that there are plenty 

 of very fat hinds, for in the course of ten years I 

 have seen many shot by accident at even an earlier 

 date, and can vouch for it that the greater number 

 cut up into fat and good venison much more so 

 than if killed in January after a lot of snow and hard 

 weather. Against this suggestion it will doubtlessly be 

 urged that it would disturb the stags while still with 

 the hinds. It is questionable whether it would do so 

 more than when shooting the hinds in the winter. 

 Granted that the stags have separated from the hinds 

 when these latter are usually shot, yet the foresters 

 must disturb and alarm the stags in going over the 

 ground in quest of their consorts. The rents of deer 

 forests are very heavy, stalking lasts but two months, 

 and likely enough the best half of that time may be 

 spoilt by misty weather. If the owner of a forest after 

 an interval of a few days could at once begin hind- 

 shooting, many, I imagine, would be glad to stay in the 

 North till the first half of November had passed, and 

 enjoy this sport before handing the rest of the fun over 



