THE DEER OF EPPING FOREST.
59
and a deer-cart. For this purpose Mr. Buxton applied to Mr. R.
Porter, of Thames Ditton, whose experience in the capture and trans-
port of park deer is well known, and he at once undertook to supply
what was needed. The cart and the nets were despatched to Bland-
ford, and on Feb. 13 I repaired to the scene of action. I may here
remark that the time of year selected was chosen advisedly. For
obvious reasons, it was desirable to wait for the close of the shooting
season, and we were anxious at the same time to increase the chances
of securing some does in fawn. The afternoon of the first day was
spent in riding over the ground, noting the position of the coverts,
and making plans for the morrow. The next morning we were up
betimes, and, after a drive of some miles to Bully Wood, arrived at
the meet, to find the keepers and beaters, about thirty in number,
already assembled. A number of poles were cut, six feet in length,
and forked at the top like clothes-props. These were driven into the
ground at intervals, and the nets, of which we had two hundred yards,
were supported on the forks, the lower side being allowed to trail on
the ground in the direction of the covert to be driven. No dogs of
any kind were used. The beaters merely made a detour, got well
away from the nets before entering the wood, and then advanced
steadily in line. We posted ourselves near the end of the net, so as
to be able to run up and assist in holding any deer that might charge
it and become entangled. We had not long to wait; the tapping of
the beaters sounded nearer and nearer, and soon the cry was heard,
"Deer for'ard." In a few seconds a doe with a last year's fawn broke
covert just below the nets, and got away; while a brace of bucks
broke on the right, and, in spite of all the efforts of the "stops" to
turn them, raced away over the down for Houghton Wood. Almost
at the same moment a fine doe, being pressed forward by the beaters,
came right into the net, and was rolled up like a rabbit. We soon
had her by the hind legs, and, carrying her as carefully as we could,
drew the sliding door of the deer-van, and pushed her gently in.
In the semi-darkness of the van, shut away from the sight of her
pursuers, and comfortably littered down with old hay, she soon
became quiet, and we anticipated little risk of injury, so long, at least,
as the van was at rest.
Moving on to the next beat, we drew Park Wood, and in three
drives secured a buck and three does, two of the does being taken
together, as side by side they dash headlong into the net. For-
tunately the weather was most favourable—a fine balmy spring day