CHAPTER VII 

 SHORE-SHOOTING 



Hutting 



It is my intention to describe the sport of shore-shooting in 

 all its branches, viewed from a practical standpoint, and as 

 appli-^d to various quarters around our coasts. Each par- 

 ticular shore has generally some characteristic peculiar to 

 itself, which demands the adoption of special methods to 

 obtain successful results. As well as describing these 

 specialities and the application of suitable methods, reference 

 will be made to the various weapons and tools used in this kind 

 of sport. Besides acquainting himself with his gear, the 

 shore-shooter who would excel in his sport must gain a 

 considerable knowledge of his quarry and its habits subject 

 to the various conditions of tide and weather. He must also 

 learn much in the art of "shore craft." If gifted with powers 

 of mimicry, and thereby able to attract his birds by "calling," 

 his chances of good sport over those who are unskilled in this 

 branch, are very considerable. 



I am afraid that it is a pretty general idea amongst gunners 

 not conversant with wildfowling that shore-shooting is a mere 

 matter of taking a gun and sauntering alongshore. No idea 

 was ever more fallacious. With the exception of a stray, 

 unwary fowl and a few of the smaller species of waders bagged 

 at rare and occasional intervals, little will ever grace the leaves 

 of his shooting diary. Possibly he may give up this class 

 of shooting with an impression on his mind that it is not the 

 mere bagatelle he had misjudged it to be, or, on the other hand, 



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