THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
stalkers* ponies and gillies. Another lodge is situated in Glen Etive, and 
a third on the slopes of Ben Starab. 
Black Mount is now easy of access by Bridge of Orchy, but Lord Dudley, 
who leased the forest for many years, had to obtain supplies from Oban 
or Glasgow to Loch Etive head, whence carts brought them a distance 
of about twenty miles to the lodge of Loch Tulla. 
The present Marquess of Breadalbane took the forest in hand in the 
year 1886, and under his able management it has greatly improved. For 
several years I had the privilege of spending a week or more there in 
the autumn, and much enjoyed stalking in its wild carries. The records 
of the forest extend back to 1863, but for the first twelve years only the 
numbers and the average weight of deer are recorded. The largest number 
killed was in 1864, when 157 stags were shot, averaging only 12 stone 12 lb. 
The average weight now for a good year is over 14 stone, and in a poor 
year 13 stone 8 lb. The finest stag killed in the forest was shot by the 
Marchioness of Breadalbane on Ben-au-eighan in 1897. This stag weighed, 
clean, 19 stone 2 lb., and carried a head of seventeen points. 
The largest stag killed during the period of Lord Dudley’s lease was 
shot by Sir Daniel Cooper, and weighed 19 stone. 
By the kindness of Lord Breadalbane I have had many good stalks 
on the Black Mount, which, for all-round qualities, is about the best forest 
in Scotland, not necessarily for good heads, but for numbers of deer, 
grand scenery, and those difficult of approach, which alone make Scottish 
stalking a high-class pastime. It had not yet, however, been my privilege 
to stalk one of Altahourn beats. Lord Breadalbane ’s favourite ground, 
so it was with very pleasant anticipations that I ascended the steep hill 
above the lodge that led to the higher corries of Ben McCaskie. 
We had risen several hundred feet above the valley when, on rounding 
a turn in the path, we came within view of a fine stag lying amongst a 
perfect jumble of great rocks some 300 yards above us, but well in to 
the wind. It only took a moment to fall out of sight, but in that moment 
I think he must have seen us, although he never moved. At any rate, our 
short stalk was a failure for, on trying to get round to one side, he suddenly 
sprang to his feet and vanished over the brow. We saw no more of him, 
but were duly grateful, when we ascended to higher ground, to find that 
he had not moved a large number of deer seen on the east flank of our 
ground. 
Being now well on the hill in the middle of our beat, and high up, we 
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