SHORE-SHOOTING 79 



your way at first. If you have made an error in striking the 

 flight-line, endeavour to rectify it another day, for it will prove 

 impossible for you to do so successfully at the time, especially 

 after the flight of birds has begun. It invariably happens that 

 it is bef^er to stick to a bad spot, for a flurry, bustle, and 

 rush elsewhere will be accompanied as a rule by bad and 

 erratic shooting. 



Your position chosen, the building of the hut is next to be 

 considered. Build of material which will harmonise in colour 

 with the various surroundings. A grassy bank in autumn has 

 a brown appearance. Old baskets, timber, brush, bents, 

 and such-like piled up and covered with grass pulled from 

 around the hut serve well to construct the little hiding-place. 

 Stones and rocks in places where the shooter chooses to 

 "hut " are easily thrown up into very comfortable and suitable 

 shooting holes. It is well and pays to spend some time and 

 care in making a comfortable ambuscade ; in fact, half the 

 battle and, indeed, the pleasure of shore-shooting from a hut 

 is secured by properly arranging things so that you can 

 comfortably shoot at the birds as they come near. A bad 

 shooting-hut is always unsatisfactory. Such conditions mean 

 disappointment ; thus it is wise to avoid them at the outset. 



Two things to be observed are the size and height of the 

 hut. The size inside should not be too large, or the birds will 

 see into the hut and most likely spot your dog. Sufficient 

 room for one man and a dog to comfortably hide and turn 

 inside is all that is required. About five feet in diameter is 

 near the mark. The height should be just up to the shooter's 

 chest. Too low a hut causes the shooter to be cramped or 

 leg-bent when about to take a shot, whilst one too high pre- 

 vents the taking of low or water-level shots. These extremes 

 are often the cause of bad shooting. Gain the right height, 

 and the shooting will be much assisted — at least in comfort if 

 nothing else. An entrance must be left, and if the shore- 



