This is a photo taken 30 years ago on the grassy slopes of Mt. Pulag. These local hunters were bringing down the mountain the fruit of their hunt - a Philippine deer (Rusa marianna).
The local term for the brown deer is "makawas" or "makwah". I believe the latter is a Kalanguya term.
Mt. Pulag has been a hunting ground for generations by Igorots who settled and built communities around the mountain.
The population of wild deer has also decreased over the years because a sizable chunk of the forests where they used to roam have been converted into agricultural land.
Deer are also rarely seen at or near the summit because of the presence of climbers and tourists. The Philippine deer are easily spooked animals and they prefer living away from humans. But they are sometimes spotted by hikers. Just a couple months ago, a "makawas" was seen and photographed by a group of hikers right on the Ambangeg hiking trail.
[Photo by Nelson Palispis. Taken circa 1995.]
