82 WING-SHOOTING. 



In a fresh fall of snow, of a foot or more in depth, grouse 

 have a trick of secreting themselves under the roots of 

 trees, and under the borders of grass}^ plots in low swampy 

 grounds. In these localities, the only possible way to 

 flush them is by the assistance of your dog through his 

 scent. It is a mystery how the scent can be taken upon 

 a bird entirely covered with snow, but such is the case. 

 When the dog makes his point, walk up to him, pass him, 

 and kick the snow in the direction that the dog is point- 

 ing ; and after a good deal of time cut to waste, the bird 

 from under your very feet will make a rush, throwing 

 the fine snow four or five feet in height, so that in all 

 probability, it cannot be seen until it has covered twent}' - 

 five or thirty yards in its flight. Occasionally I have 

 made ffood bags under like conditions. 



The one gi-eat ingredient in successful grouse shoot- 

 ing, as in most all other shooting, is j)atience and perse- 

 verance. The shooter, who follows his dog even to 

 the most unlikely places, and sticks out to the last, 

 usually, has the best chance. I am a sticker myself, and 

 never like to give it up as there is often a chance of 

 a bird or two, no matter how hopeless it looks. I 

 have many a time had a run of luck at the last mo- 

 ment, which turned an indifferent day into a good one. 



