Chasing chital

Something had moved in the early morning stillness on the forested ridge. I caught only a fleeting glimpse, a hint of a flicker, as I scanned the bush ahead. My eyes had moved on before it even registered. It may have only been a bird, but my impression was that of an ear flick. I remained frozen and, slowly, brought the Swarovski 10x25 binoculars up to my eyes.

I was stalking a couple of kilometres of low, stony ridge that overlooked a number of huge, circular, irrigated pastures. The property ran beef cattle but also produced a lot of hay and silage. The irrigated land had been fenced in an effort to exclude the cattle, roos, pigs and deer that would relish a feed of the lush green fodder within. The fence had proved successful at keeping out everything, except the resident chital deer. A few times each year I visit for a short spell and cull some deer. The survivors flee the area and give the cultivation a rest for a while.

My preferred approach is to start where the ridge runs right down to the cultivation fence. I always