170 STORMY WEATHER FOR FOREST SHOOTING. 



windy, gusty weather, where he has the option he leaves 

 the open country and takes to the woods. On such 

 occasions whenever there is a lull in the wind he 

 ought to stop, so that his footsteps may not be heard, 

 immediately pushing on again during the heavy gusts, 

 whose sighing among the trees will effectually cover 

 any sound of his movements. This gives time to 

 examine all the surroundings, for a hunter in the forest 

 must as we have said before always be on the alert, 

 as he may come upon game at any moment. 



Forest animals are however generally very watchful 

 and restless at these times, as if aware of the disad- 

 vantage they then lie under in detecting the advance 

 of enemies, and when suddenly come upon are apt to 

 jump up in a panic, and go off crashing through the 

 underwood before the hunter can get a shot at all, or 

 after getting at the most the chance of a snap-shot 

 before they disappear among the trees. If they are 

 lying concealed in heavy cover however they will 

 generally lie perfectly still, so as often to escape notice 

 altogether. Many sportsmen prefer shot guns loaded 

 with ball for use under such circumstances, instead of 

 a rifle, as among thickets they often get snap-shots, 

 within a few paces distance, when it is a question 

 whether a shot gun is not even more effective than 

 a rifle. This however is of course a matter of taste 

 and opinion and personally we prefer to adhere to 

 the superior weapon, the rifle, at all times. 



The foregoing remarks however, must be held to 

 apply mainly to regions situated in the temperate 

 zones. In the tropics, in the hot weather, game 

 generally seek the deepest shade in the heaviest cover, 

 and remain quiet during the daytime, coming forth on 



