THE PRACTICE OF DEER-STALKING 165 



go to some safe place on a hill and fire at stones from 

 every kind of position. 



One rule in shooting deer is so well known that it 

 is hardly necessary to mention it. The rifle should 

 never rest on a rock or hard substance. If it does, the 

 jar will send the bullet far over the object aimed at. 

 But this applies, in a less degree, when the elbows 

 are resting on a hard substance, as the jar, though 

 diminished in force, still communicates itself through 

 the arms to the rifle. It is generally easy to get a bit 

 of soft turf to place under the rifle, or a pocket-hand- 

 kerchief stuffed into your cap will do as well. 



On no account should a running shot be taken 

 from a rest, or from any position except from the 

 shoulder, standing if possible. Even the ordinary 

 elbow-on-knee position is not admissible. The arms 

 must be free to follow the deer, or it is a miss in nine 

 cases out of ten. 



With regard to running shots, the fuss that is 

 made about them has often surprised me. How con- 

 stantly it happens that a sportsman returning from the 

 hill on being asked by his host ' What luck ? ' replies 

 'None at all'! 'What, did you not get a shot?' 

 ' Only a running one ; no chance at all.' Now there 

 are running shots and running shots. To my mind 

 a stag cantering broadside at seventy yards is far 



