THE CAUCASIAN STAG 
T HE Caucasian Stag ( Cervus elaphus moral), locally known as 
the “ Ollen,” is to be found more or less all the way along 
the forests that clothe the lower slopes of the range, but is 
decidedly more numerous at the western end. It is almost 
identical with the stags found in the Carpathians and in Asia 
Minor, and is remarkable for the length of the frontal bone of 
the skull, which is very noticeable when compared with the heads of 
Western Europe. 
As this stag is a forest-loving animal, the best chance of getting a shot is 
in the calling season, which usually begins about September 20, but 
varies a little from year to year, and is sometimes delayed by a continu- 
ation of the warm weather; while in some years the Caucasian stag roars 
much more freely than in others. 
The noise he makes at this time is similar to the roaring of other red 
deer, and does not resemble the bugling of the wapiti. In places where he 
has been much hunted by the natives he hardly dares to raise his voice 
at all, but the most likely time to hear him is at early dawn or in the very 
late evening. Owing to the echo in a mountainous country it is very difficult 
to locate the animal from the sound, and a great deal depends upon whether 
he has his head turned towards you or away. It takes considerable practice 
before one can tell the difference between the call of an old stag and a 
young one; it must be remembered that the most noise is generally pro- 
duced by a medium-sized stag, and the real old fellow, as a rule, contents 
himself with a deep short roar and a few grunts. 
Having located him by the sound, one must endeavour to approach as 
quietly as possible, paying particular attention to the direction of the 
wind. It is very difficult to pass over the fallen leaves of autumn without 
making a noise, and here a pair of rubber shoes may come in useful; 
but no one can walk silently over the leaves of the beech tree, which are 
particularly noisy. 
The pursuit of the stag in thick timber can hardly be regarded as so 
fine a sport as ibex hunting on the open mountain, where the beast can be 
spied with the telescope, and the stalk carefully thought out; still, there 
is a great charm in wandering through the woods, and the heart of the 
hunter will always thrill at the sound of a stag’s roar. 
Caucasian stags carry a very heavy body, fully equal in weight to those 
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