THE RED DEER 
In the forest previously referred to, nine -tenths of the stags shot are old 
beasts going back, hummels, or bad -headed young ones. The owner and 
his sons and guests are allowed only about one good stag each per season, 
but that one is generally a 35-incher, or something of the kind, and there 
are plenty more always coming on. 
In Scotland deer are generally brought down from the hill on ponies 
or “ girns ” as they are called. Most of these are heavy black beasts, 
though Welsh ponies are sometimes employed. At Blair the Duke of Atholl 
has a special breed of “ girns,” dappled grey in colour, which are certainly 
very handsome animals. At Glen Carron, in Ross -shire, they employ a 
curious little carriage on low wheels shaped like a sledge, and capable 
of being dragged over very rough ground. In hind stalking a light sledge, 
easily dragged over the snow, is sometimes used, but this method is more 
commonly seen in the Austrian Tyrol for carrying deer, whilst a small 
bushy tree is favoured by some continental stalkers, on which they lay 
the dead animal and drag it home with a horse. This method is in general 
use in South Africa by the Dutch Boers, who drag, with a span of oxen, 
dead elands, koodoos and giraffes to camp by such improvised sledges — 
and a very excellent one it is. Owing to the boggy nature of the ground, 
men, and even women, accompany the stalkers to the hill in the Hebrides 
and bear the dismembered stags to the stalker’s lodge or road, from 
whence a cart takes the remains to the house. Hill ponies are, however, 
the most common method of transport, and without their help, and the 
instinct of the man or boy who leads them, many deer would be left on 
the hill. 
Twenty years ago it was not possible to keep dry on the hill on a very 
wet day; now many firms cater for the comfort of the sportsman, so that 
he need never be wet unless forced to take a long crawl down a burn or 
over a marsh. Therefore remember before setting out for the hill to take: 
1. A Burberry slip-on for any sort of weather, no matter if the day is 
fine at the commencement. 
2. If it shows signs of a pouring wet day there is nothing better than 
the light Pegamoid waterproof made by the Commercial Stores, 
87, Jamaica Street, Glasgow. It is better and lighter than any thin Sou’- 
wester, and absolutely waterproof. It is also of a good colour, and the 
cost is very moderate. 
3. A soft woollen scarf is as good as an overcoat, and for long waits 
is indispensable, as it prevents the wind and rain going down the neck. 
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