Roe Deer 
191 
When they are wounded too, they will creep into a hole or drain or double on their 
tracks as well as any fallow buck. One day in November I went out to a wood near the 
bog at Murthly to beat for blackcock, and was standing forward on an old timber road 
which led to Strathord. In this part of the ground I knew there were five does only, for 
the buck belonging to them had been killed in September. Whilst standing at my post I 
saw the roe coming forward, and took only a casual interest in them as they filed across the 
road within thirty yards of me. All five passed over, when suddenly a fine buck with a 
good head sprang into the middle of the road and stood looking at me. He was a stranger, 
and of course had <£ got no friends,” so I at once let him have both shots, which I felt sure 
were all right. Anticipating no trouble as he jumped back into the wood, I waited for the 
keepers to pick him up as they came forward. They, however, had seen nothing, and we 
worked every bit of ground with three retrievers without any of them showing a sign of 
interest except to follow on the does, which had gone right ahead. It was most mystifying, 
as I knew the buck must be close by and was hiding somewhere. We had at last to give it 
up, and had beaten on for a minute or two when I heard a dog barking furiously, but paid no 
attention to the fact till I suddenly missed my good old dog Jet from my side ; then, of 
course, off I went as hard as I could in the direction of the sounds. I found her standing 
over the roe, which she had pulled down after a considerable struggle ; her mouth was 
bleeding and there were patches of hair all over the place. What had happened was this :— 
The buck, on receiving the shots, had sprung from the road straight into the deep ditch 
running parallel to it ; he had then forced his way a few yards through the water and rushes 
and lain down whilst we were talking and looking back for him. He had then crept along 
up the ditch for a hundred yards, and finding it turn up into the cover again, had so pro¬ 
ceeded “ under the wind ” till he had passed the dangerous ground and the keepers, who 
must repeatedly have walked along close to his hiding-place. Jet, however, had stayed 
behind to potter about, and accidentally striking the trail, had followed it up. 
It is well for young sportsmen, anxious to shoot a roebuck and posted forward, to 
remember that, as with other deer, the best one generally comes last, and so often saves his 
skin. Many a man has blamed himself for firing at that big doe in front, when by 
watching out of the corner of his eye he might have seen what was coming and had a nice 
head to put up in the smoking-room instead. 
Although roe are very cow-hocked behind, there is a great deal of grace and 
elegance about all their attitudes. As they feed along, each leg is most delicately lifted and 
placed on the ground again, while in danger their movements are quick and deliberate. 
Roe very rarely trot, their common pace being a bounding canter for a short distance, which 
soon settles into a rolling gallop, as with so many other species. When they are really 
frightened, as when beaten out of bushes, they plunge with lowered head at a great pace 
through the undergrowth, often making beautiful leaps in the air, though not till several 
yards away. They are good jumpers too, and when put to it, will take a five-barred gate as 
well as any thoroughbred. One of the prettiest things is to see a troop of roe go through 
a wire fence ; they go at it at such a pace, if frightened, that you imagine they will break 
their necks for certain. The animals seem to make a hardly perceptible turn on their sides, 
there is a “ ping ” of the wires, and on they dash with hardly a check. 
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