The King King Hunting Diaries

April 3rd.  Berks & Bucks at Gerrard’s X.  Uncarted the white faced stag, who did not seem inclined to run, but was driven by foot people past Chalfont Park.   Here we had a bit of woodland hunting with apparently no scent, tho’ the deer was aniseeded (!) & at last took in the water at the Asbestos Works.  Uncarted a hind by Denham Avenue, who soon took to the road, & when they turned from home I left them going for Chalfont St Peter still on the road.  Home in cold rain.  Wind S.W.

Strategy
“Go on old Bald Face!”

April 7th.  Mr Garth at Longcrop Post Office.  Found in the Fox Hills a mangy fox, ran him to ground in the covert.  Drew a lot of country blank, came back to our mangy friend, who was accessible by that time, killed, & ate him, rather to my surprise.  Found again in Wentworth.  Ran a ring pretty well while up wind, badly down, & I left them having apparently lost him.

Strategy

April 10th.  The Queen’s at Farnham Common.  Presentation to Mr Cantrell at 11.  Uncarted an untried stag on the Common.  He was driven off his line by a lot of cads, & unluckily the wind was the wrong way.  Hunted slowly but prettily thro’ Burnham Beeches, Dropmore on the right, to Taplow where the deer got in the river, but coming out again ran the woods on the Bucks side of Clifeden beyond wh. he was taken in the river again.  Wind W.

Strategy

April 14th.  Mr Garth at Wentworth.  Found by the boggy brook as usual, lost him as usual.  Said he went to ground.  Found again by the railway, ran for a few minutes, lost him a la Brackley.  Drew blank a few coverts & I left early not caring for the ---- of Egham Wood.

Strategy

April 16th.  Mr Garth at Caesar’s Camp.  Found almost directly & lost still quicker.  Found again Broadmoor way ------.  Killed in a few yards or ran to ground.  Lost a fore shoe & so home prematurely.  Blowing a whole gale S.W.

Strategy

April 18th.  The Berks & Bucks at Vicarage Farm, Stoke.  Uncarted on Farnham Common.  The deer took a left handed ring in the wood, & ran out, & in on the earliest opportunity.  Uncarted a hind at the Yew Tree.  This deer took a short right handed ring on the Hedgerly side, then pointed for Bulstrode Park, scent being very middling.  There she lay up in the ------ hounds finally fresh finding her, & coursing her over the park, & Gerrard’s X Common, turning to the left & going (hunting now) Seer Green way.  Back nearly ti Wilton Park, thence away to Penn Church where we took her safely in a shed.  Whole time some 3 hours, by no means bad, an instance of how a lucky deer can go on & stay.  Wind N.W.

Strategy