In Scotland the roe is classed as vermin and exterminated with shotguns.
The roebuck is, to the middle class Continental sportsman, his highest sport in rifle shooting.
Few men in England, even if they have the means, care for deer-stalking as they know nothing of rifle shooting. They prefer small game shooting with the shotgun which they are more skilful with.
On the Continent the roe is strictly preserved and no does or fawns are ever allowed to be killed.
The roebuck must be shot only with a rifle and not during the close season.
There are societies which have yearly exhibitions of roebuck heads, shot by their members during the current year, and gold, silver, and bronze medals given for the best heads.
A good roe-head in a public place draws crowds who discuss its good and bad points.
I doubt if in England one person in a thousand would know what species of deer they belonged to, but all would know the difference between a tennis, cricket, or foot ball.
Rifle clubs are in existence all over the Continent to enable members to practice for game shooting.
The club members are sportsmen used to game shooting with the rifle, not men who have never fired a rifle except at a target or ever expect to shoot otherwise, and who therefore take no interest in rifle shooting except in seeing who can make the closest group of shots on a stationary target and to win spoons and cups.