xin. PARTRIDGE SHOOTING (PART I}, 'WALKING' 223 



When walking against a side wind invariably 

 direct the guns on the downwind flank of the line to 

 keep well forward, for, even when being driven home- 

 wards, some of the birds may tend to fly back with the 

 wind ; and if not being driven homewards, they are 

 sure to do so ; for instance, in Example 3 (fig. 40, 

 opposite page), it will be seen the forward guns will 

 intercept the flight of the birds that rise in front of the 

 centre or left-hand shooters, if they try to turn the 

 flank of the line on the right by wheeling with the wind. 



Partridges that sky back high over the flank guns 

 (as when they refuse to face a strong wind) offer very 

 pretty chances. Should a low bird, however, turn 

 back and slant from right to left behind you, do not 

 dance round after him to fire ; you will gain a steadier 

 position, and hence a more accurate aim, if you step 

 short to the left and thus meet the flight of the bird 

 with the gun. The latter is a quick though easy 

 motion, and the former is the reverse. 



When shooters are walking out a field, it is a 

 mistake for any gun to walk close to a hedge. If a 

 shooter does this, he can only fire at birds rising on 

 one side of him or within about 40 yards ; whilst if 

 he walks 40 yards from the hedge he covers about 

 80 yards with his gun, or, say, 40 yards on either 

 hand. 



If coveys of partridges will not lie to the gun, but, 

 as they often do, continually rise and skim away out 



