THE IBEX 
is not a difficult animal to stalk; and, granted that the wind and the 
nature of the ground are favourable, the hunter should be able to rely 
with tolerable certainty upon getting within shooting distance after 
sighting him. 
The stalk should be made from above, as mountain beasts are always 
on the look-out downwards in the direction in which they know their 
hereditary enemy man dwells. If possible the finish of the crawl should 
land you almost on the same level as the herd, as then, if there is more 
than one head worth shooting, you will have a much better chance with 
your second shot. Be careful not to show yourself after the first shot, as 
the game will always stand and look round after the first short stampede. 
On one occasion I got two good bucks at one stalk, after missing entirely 
with my first cartridge; the echo from the cliff prevented their locating the 
sound, the ibex ran back nearly straight for me and I killed them both 
at short range. But I have always felt that I did not deserve this piece 
of luck. 
The early summer is the best time for ibex shooting, as they come down 
to the patches of young grass. Later on in the season, when the snow melts, 
their feeding grounds are so much extended that they are more difficult 
to locate. Their habits are much more reliable than those of the markhor, 
and if undisturbed they will come down to the same spot day after day to 
feed ; so that if the wind or other conditions are not favourable for a stalk 
it is much better to leave it till another day and not run the risk of disturb- 
ing the game uselessly. 
In the Himalayas the ibex does not seem to exist anywhere to the east 
of the Kumaon border, and it is curious that it has not a more extended 
range in this direction, where apparently there is plenty of ground just 
as suitable to his requirements. No man, however, can decide why animals 
sometimes confine themselves to certain localities and show no disposition 
to extend their range. 
The word kheyl is used by the Kashmiris for ibex, but there is no fear 
of the English word being misunderstood by any native shikari. 
In winter they seldom descend like the markhor, but seem able to 
maintain a precarious livelihood on spots too steep for the snow to rest on. 
What they find to eat there at this season is a mystery. 
Few wild goats make decent food for a white man, but the native will 
gladly eat ibex provided he can make it lawful meat by hallaling , i.e. 
cutting the throat before it is quite dead. Care must be taken, however, to 
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