50 Wild Birds and their Haunts 



A FEW COMMENTS ON THE SPORT. 



PUNT-SHOOTING VERSUS SHORE-SHOOTING. 



NO one appears to have anything to say against the 

 practice of shooting birds from the shore, or even 

 with the shoulder gun on the stakes, but with the 

 punt gunner it is totally different, if one may judge by 

 the antagonism shown in the local press, at times. 



The sport of punting is variously summed up and con- 

 demned by those who do not possess a shooting punt. 

 It is called murder, massacre, butchery, &c, &c, the 

 different degrees of nomenclature varying probably with 

 the dislike, petty spite, or jealousy of the different critics. 



The view which I have always held in relation to 

 this matter is that undoubtedly punt shooting is one of the 

 kings of sport, and it calls forth all the skill, patience, and 

 energy requisite in a successful shore shooter, and a great 

 deal more wariness and science are required in the punter, 

 in his method of approaching his prey ; therefore, why all 

 this adverse criticism ? 



One can well imagine the exultation which necessarily 

 fills the breast of the individual who has, with one dis- 

 charge, captured a modest quarter of a hundred birds. 

 Neither can I regard as inhuman punt shooting, for every 

 precaution is taken, at all shoots, to kill, with the hand 

 gun, all birds that have been winged or only slightly 

 wounded. 



