339 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 
that which takes the shooting as it comes, instead of 
picking out the easy shots, or easy combinations to 
secure them. 
The best snipe gun is moderately choked, or an im- 
proved cylinder bore. As in all open shooting, good 
work may be done with a full choke, since the shooter 
can pick his distance to shoot his birds. However, it 
is not every man who can wait on his bird, or who 
can estimate distances at a glance; therefore, it is bet- 
ter to have a scatter gun which will be available for 
instant use when the bird rises. A 12-bore is most 
commonly used, and as for the size of shot, No. 8s or 
Qs or 10s are good, the latter being quite large enough 
when the birds are fat and lazy. 
As a bird to shoot over dogs, the snipe is inferior. 
Sometimes it is in such abundance that a dog is un- 
necessary. At other times it is so wild that it will not 
lie to the dog at all. If fat and tame, it may lie too 
well. Again, it will frequent marshes so wet, cold and 
rank with marsh grasses that it is impossible for a dog 
to work satisfactorily, however good his intentions and 
ability may be. 
Very few dogs have a natural fondness for work 
on snipe. It is acquired in most instances. Some 
dogs, good on upland game birds, thoroughly detest the 
snipe and refuse to recognize it. On the other hand, 
some dogs like snipe as a bird to work on, though such 
are exceptional. 
Considered strictly as a bird of the open, the snipe 
affords excellent open shooting. Yet there is never 
