Fallow in the frost

“No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease, No comfortable feel in any member, No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds, November!”

This verse of William Hood was written nearly 200 years ago. It still applies accurately to the countryside in which the deer stalker pursues fallow deer. Indeed, every deer stalker would do well to carry a card with these lines inscribed on it as they serve as a reminder of the weather conditions likely to affect his quarry. Starting with “no warmth”, fallow does herd close together to give and take warmth from each other. They