European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 24, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Kanzel i froze. About to Yards from me was .1 hint huh mature female red Deer. I Sank to the ground and crawled  he Clearing to see what else was there. Soon i could see Kalwil ii females and calves. Then i saw him. There in the Middle of inc Small Herd was ire most magnificent Stagl had Ever seen. I studied him through my binoculars As he stood in inc fall coloured grass his build movements the  he held his head All lot me he was a mature i,1, of in least id years. My heart Rale seemed to double. Counted the Points. Nine 10,1112. On Neil and i Crown on both sides. Class a and nol on my permit. Let me study him some More i thought. Maybe i counted  i could sen i Hose Antlers hanging on my Wall i was t wrong. He was a class a slag. Then i was tempted. Maybe 1 could shoot and say i had not seen the 12th Point. The slag of a lifetime. A Diar easy shot. You can l miss. Do in do a then i thought about the forester. The Man had trusted me not to snoot anything above a in. I did t shool. Almost in tears i went to the forester s House Mil explained everything. He called his higher authority who said it really did t matter about inc class in entry on inc permit and thai i could shoot if we saw inc Stag . I went to the Gasthaus and Laid everyone the Story. Then i Dre Mcd about Hunt info that night in moving i had newly four More Days t went Oul alone at least seven Mare times. And although i saw some Kalvild now and then the Stag never came Back. On the last night i went by the forester s House to Tell him How much i enjoyed the Hunt and to say goodbye lust before gulling in my car to leave i quickly glanced at the Moon above the Pine Fores where i had hunted. I had a comforting feeling. 1 was satisfied with myself and Felt i was now a More experienced Hunter 1 could somehow see that slag wild and alive under the same Moon. And still King of the Forest. In the years that followed i found myself Hunting the red Dyer slag in Many areas of Bavaria including the Obe Pfau Antt the Alpine Region. Golden experiences. They Bour he me in Contact with told weather Mountain trails and streams Small Hunting Cabins Wood stoves the Roar of Stags during the Rollin season and nights atom High in inc mountains there were two rips to Scotland to Hunt Stag. It s almost impossible to describe the pleasure Tif walking and crawling through the Heather in he Highlands. Slags in Scotland tend to be smaller and have lighter Antlers than those in Germany. And Hunting there is different. It s unforgettable if you be Ever alone in stalking is the method used in almost All cases shouting a the Highlands can be Tricky. Even though a slag presents .1 big target the wind excitement and fatigue can throw a shot off especially at ranges of 1uo Yards and beyond. A Hunter who is a poor shut can have problems. Isow whenever i loot Back at my Hunts there i remember the Little things most. There was the wind thai Lii cd a key role in stalking. The stalkers  me Percy Robertson and Willie Ewin could judge where the Deer would or would not be grazing by checking the wind. I remember the big grins and slops on my shoulder after the shots with a Hearty Good Sho Olingi from Percy and Willie. I m fortunate to have been Able to Hunt in Scotland. The Highland wind the faces the voices Anil walks through the Heather still stand so vividly in my mind it somehow seems i never left. One Lime during my adventures in Europe i began Hunting fur a specific slag but had no intention of shooting it. Over the years i had wondered about that Beautiful slag with the glowing Cross Between its Antlers. I had seen sketches painting Sand images of this supposedly special animal on Pewter plates Buer mugs Hunting Memorabilia and a Erma Isle r liqueur advertisements. Yes i had been toll the centuries old Story. About Hubertus Whu supposedly was a Man of wordly character and a wasteful Hunter Onu Day. He saw a slag in the Forest Wilh inc Cross betwee Nhis Antler the slag spoke to Hubertus and shamed him for his ways. The Man then sought advice from a Bishop Lamberus of maastricht Netherlands. Hubertus was then converted to christianity and later became a Bishop. My search for i his slag gave me a few quiet hours in the Forest but the real Hunt was mostly through libraries Book find discussions with army chaplains. From All material i could Lind on St. Hubertus t determined the Story was mostly legend. There is no factual record of Hubertus having this experience with he Stag. The record lends to refute any Ilea  the Stag would help convert Hubertus to religion. He  a Christian from childhood and studied during his youth in a cloister under Bishup Lambert. In the year 709, he Euime Bishop of Zuellich and maastricht. He died in the year 727 and was buried in the Peers Kurche Peter s Church in Guetlich he was later elevated to sainthood and his body was moved to its present resting place in the cloister of St. Hubert in the ardennes area of Belgium. Although i doubled Hubertus had really seen this Stag 1 could t help but believe he was out there somewhere. Eventually i found him. Historical accounts Tell of a military colonel by. The name of placidus under Kaiser Trapani in the Early second Century. He was a kind Well to do non Christian and an avid Hunter. One Day while out with other Hunters he encountered a Herd of red Deer. Suddenly a prime Stag broke from the Herd. Placidus told his fellow Hunters to Wail while he followed the Stag. -.-. After a Brief Chase the Stag jumped up on a Steep Rock and looked Back Al him. As placidus came closer he. Saw a Crucifix Between the Antlers of the Stag. To his great astonish ment the slag began to speak and asked placidus Why Are you following me i have to come to you through this animal because i am Christ whom you unknowingly Honor. Your kindness has sons to the Bishop of Rome to be baptized. This he did Al Midnight of the same Day and upon baptism was Given the name Eustachius. He saw the Stag again on the following Day and was told that the rest of his life would be filled with trial and difficulty. This came True bul he remained a Strong Christian. Eustachius and his family died As Christian martyrs around the year 120. He was honoured in Rome in the eighth Century As a guardian of Hunters and foresters. So Why is is. Hubertus the Patron Saint of Hunters and Why the connection to the famous slag there Are two parts to inc answer. During his lifetime Many Hunters developed Strong admiration for and Devotion to Hubertus. There were Many non curb plans who allowed deep rolled Hunting irad Lions associated with beliefs in other gods. The first kill of a Hunt for example was ceremoniously offered to the goddess Diana. In his missionary efforts Hubertus showed respect for these traditions bul persuaded Hunters to Orient their practices toward christianity. Wilh teaching from Hubertus offering of the first kill of the Hunt was eventually to St. Peter rather than the goddess Diana. He was regarded As a Friend of Hunters and years after his death Hunters began to donate the first kill to the monastery in his Honor. Many people believed Hubertus could Curt people and animals of rabies by touching them with his Bishop s key. After his death special Hubertus keys were made and when touched id the preserved stole of Hubertus were believed in have protective Powers against rabies. And the Stag the connection apparently was introduced in 1444 by Gerhard ii Duke of Julich Berg Germany who out of Devon in to is. Hubertus founded a prestigious Knightly order in his Honor. Documents of the order carried the Duke s Seal which included an image of St. Hubertus kneeling in front of that famous Stag with the glowing Cross. Did Hub Rhubertus Sec the slag Well i believe that placidus did but i m nol sure about Huber Lus. Perhaps1 lie did because now after All my Hunting 1 believe i be seen him too. Become known to heaven and this is Why i have co to  placidus then fell to inc ground and asked for  that he might further believe and understand i the was 11 ild logo with his wife a nit two icy f now is pull cd on the Tjce and an Terf Otth Lusiag.  1989 ill Pei Nii Guyne