Li Long raised his rifle and aimed toward the deer's call. A young stag was walking with easy strides toward the does at the bottom of the gully.
The stag was big, about the size of a full-grown cow, only not as fat. Its movements were light, and every so often it raised its head and called. Whether it was trying to attract the does' attention or calling to its companions, he couldn't tell.
The does stopped when they heard the stag's call, and one of them answered.
The velvet antlers on the stag's head weren't very large. They were much smaller than the deer antlers they had picked up the day before. The tips still looked hairy and blunt; they had some time to go before becoming hard antlers.
Keeping his sights on the stag, Li Long said quietly:
"Daqiang, aim at those does. Wait until I shoot before you fire, and see if you can hit one... Don't shoot before I do, understand?"
"Understood." Tao Daqiang hadn't even taken the safety off yet, afraid another accidental discharge would ruin Li Long's plans.
Li Long slowly steadied his breathing and aimed at the front of the stag's chest. The hide mattered, and a good hunter should have aimed for the head, but Li Long felt it was better to play it safe. They had spent days roaming the mountains before coming across a stag. If he missed again, who knew how much longer they would have to wander around? There was still plenty to do at home!
Taking up the slack in the trigger, Li Long didn't keep Tao Daqiang waiting long. Bang! The rifle fired.
Tao Daqiang was wound tight. The moment he heard Li Long's shot, the finger resting on his safety flicked it off, and he