196 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS 



point of a covert into which a number of pheasants 

 have been driven. The birds will then not only offer 

 low unsporting shots, but the sound of firing to their 

 immediate front is very apt to turn them away from 

 the guns forward back over the heads of the advancing 

 line of beaters, especially if the wind is against the 

 game as it rises. 



If the wind is not a fair one for the birds as they 

 rise from the end of a wood, it is far better for some 

 of the guns to remain behind the beaters in covert, as 

 shown in Nos. 6, 7, 8 (Example No. 7, page!86). Under 

 these conditions the guns standing back will generally 

 be as much occupied as their friends in the open. 



If the wind is with the birds as they rise at the end 

 of a covert, place all the guns well away in the open 

 say a hundred yards from the wood. With a fair 

 wind, and when driven to another covert, pheasants 

 will face any amount of firing, provided always they 

 are not being forced too far from home ; for though a 

 pheasant can be induced to run in almost any direction 

 you want him to go, it is not easy to make him fly 

 high over a shooter who intercepts his line of flight, 

 if this is one the bird is not naturally willing to take. 

 If placed in the open, there is little difficulty in 

 posting the guns well within sight of one another ; 

 but, should a gun be hidden round a corner, explain 

 to his neighbour exactly where he is, and tell both 

 in what direction they can alone fire with absolute 

 safety. 



