Deer stalking

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Deer stalking, or simply stalking, is a British term for the stealthy pursuit of deer on foot to hunt for meat, leisure, trophy, or to control their numbers.^[1] As part of wildlife management, just as with rabbiting and boar hunting, deer stalking aims to reduce crop damage. Additionally, deer stalking has long been considered a pastime sport.

Stalked deer are commonly shot with a high-powered bow (in countries other than the UK; in the UK, it is illegal to hunt any animal with a bow) or a rifle. Prior to the invention of the modern centerfire rifle, deer were stalked with the aid of a sighthound, such as the Scottish Deerhound.^[2][3] Stalking sticks are often used to steady the aim of the rifle and binoculars when scanning the ground.^{[citation needed]}

The term "deer hunting" is used in North America to describe the hunting of deer without using hunting dogs, but in Britain and Ireland, the term generally refers to the pursuit of deer with scent hounds and unarmed pursuers, typically on horseback.^{[citation needed]}