WING SHOOTING. .')") 



position in which to hold or carry a gun with a pistol grip 

 is to grasp the gun at the grip with the right hand, with the 

 elbow close to the body and the barrels of the gun-rest 

 against the shoulder, with the hammers against or just be- 

 low the front of the shoulder, the muzzle pointing almost 

 straight up, or inclining slightly to the rear; this is an easy, 

 safe position, and the habit of carrying your gun in this 

 manner is soon acquired. Another mode is: with the left 

 hand grasp the gun at or directly in front of the fore end, 

 with the right hand on the grip and the index finger lightly 

 pressing'the trigger, with the muzzle pointing toward the 

 ground from two to three feet in front of you; this is a very 

 good way to carry your gun but more fatiguing, if long 

 continued. The last position, with the muzzle elevated, is 

 also good, but not so free from accidents to your companions. 

 Commence operations by firing at the first and every bird 

 flushed within range. Don't wait for a better shot, the 

 first is always best. Be quick; the quicker, the greater will 

 be your success, but at the same time be calm and as delib- 

 erate as you can with the quickness of your motions. Re- 

 member that hurry does not mean flurry. You hear a great 

 many men excuse their misses by saying they shoot too 

 quickly. That is not true, they shoot in a flurry. 



The true way is: Bring the gun to your shoulder; see 

 the bird in full view over the sight of the gun, then pull 

 the trigger. Don't be discouraged if you miss, for all men 

 are inclined to overshoot at first; but shoot at any rate, as 

 you will soon establish a sympathy between your eye and 

 finger; that is, as soon as the eye has found the bird, in the 

 proper place over the barrels, the finger will instinctively 

 pull the trigger. Sympathy between the eye and finger is 

 absolutely requisite in successful shooting. There are many 

 important points, such as distance, speed, and direction, 

 judgment in all of these particulars can only be acquired 



