CANADA GOOSE-SHOOTING. 283 
and wherever white may be seen on the live bird should 
be brought out in strong contrast against the lead color 
of the body and the black on the head and neck. The 
hunter must dress warm, and in clothing suitable and 
in strong sympathy with his surroundings ; there must 
be no distinction between his dress and the dress of the 
trees, sand, corn, stubble field, or wherever he may be 
hid. These huge birds are wary according to their 
size, and look with suspicion at every thing, and one 
can rest assured that every goose he shoots he will earn, 
unless he should be in a country where they are so 
plenty as to do away with the necessity of exercising 
much skill and ingenuity in hunting them,—even then, 
he will find the number killed very small, unless he 
dresses and hunts with judgment. 
While they are a large mark to shoot at, it takes a 
hard hitting gun to bring them down, plenty of powder, 
good and strong, and rare skill in shooting at the right 
time. The sizes of shot used by the very best of goose 
hunters vary, ranging from No. 4 to BB, and extre- 
mists use even larger. But taking into consideration 
the fact that most, if not all, good shooting guns are 
choke bored,and extreme choke at that, safety to both 
shooter and gun doesn’t warrant the using of any size 
larger than BB’s. The bore of the gun also depends 
on the peculiar idea of its owner. While some will 
not be satisfied with a six bore, an immense charge of 
powder and two oz of shot; on the other hand, the 
extremist the other way contends that a 20 bore, 
and 1-2 oz. of shot is the great and only road to success. 
The majority of hunters use 10 and 12 gauge, and where 
they are properly loaded and well handled, their owners 
have no cause to fear the 6 bore cannon, or to blush as 
