THE MANAGEMENT OF DEER FORESTS 123 



and going on to that of your neighbour. Nothing is 

 more tantalising than to peep over the ridge which 

 bounds the sacred spot and to find it crawling with 

 good deer, while on the ground you have been stalk- 

 ing there is nothing to be seen but * trash.' 



Worst of all, when the rutting season begins many 

 of these good stags that have been so carefully nursed 

 leave the sanctuary and the forest far behind them, 

 and get shot by others who have had no share in 

 preserving them. Nor does it help to keep up the 

 stock of deer to any great extent. After the season 

 is over and the wandering stags return home, that 

 particular part of the forest is no quieter than the rest ; 

 indeed, the latter having been eaten less bare may 

 prove the most attractive during the winter months. 



There remains the case of a medium-sized forest. 

 Here it is impossible to lay down any rule which is 

 equally applicable to all forests coming under that 

 category. Some may have comes so situated that 

 they seem to be marked out for the purpose of pro- 

 viding a place of safety for deer when disturbed or 

 moved from the surrounding hills. The prevailing 

 direction of the wind will of necessity form no incon- 

 siderable element in selecting the spot which is most 

 suitable for the purpose. Deer as a rule move up 

 wind, and if they are not pleased with the ground 



