Game stalker

feline game stalkerDefined narrowly, a game stalker is a hunter who for sport, approaches close to his timid quarry before making a kill. The practice is commonly associated with the moors of Scotland where the principal quarry is red deer. However, the skill is found worldwide and is of extremely long standing, having been practised by hominids since before the evolution of modern Homo Sapiens. Many other species such as cats and hyenas also stalk their prey.

Among hunter-gatherers, where their quarry is timid, stalking is a way of livelihood in order that they may catch what they hunt. Nowadays, stalking is frequently done for purposes of photography or observation of animal behaviour rather than for killing.

Whatever the means of killing, the hunter has to be more or less near the quarry in order to achieve it. Most animals are very sensitive to the presence of predators. In many cases, their sense of smell is highly-developed and would detect anything with a scent that does not fit within the usual environment, provided the wind carried the particles of scent to the quarry. The stalker therefore needs to approach from down-wind. Similarly, care needs to be taken to avoid being seen and heard.

In North America the term still hunting is often used to describe a hunter's general quiet, footbound search for game, with the term stalking limited to hunting individual animals once such animals are identified.

Matters arising

The deerstalker is a type of hat associated with Sherlock Holmes and Elmer Fudd. Notable for its slight rain-brim to the front and back, with a camouflage checked twill pattern and fold-down earpieces for selective warmth or to raise when listening for deer.