304 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS LETTER 



of friends ; for, of all sport with the game gun, 

 grouse driving is perhaps the most popular. 



There is certainly less risk of disappointment in 

 hiring a driving inoor than there is in becoming the 

 tenant of one on which pointers and setters are neces- 

 sary, always provided you obtain reliable accounts of 

 the bags it has shown in previous seasons, and, for 

 reasons before pointed out, the full history of its last 

 visitation of disease. 



If you hire a driving moor you will probably find 

 everything mapped out ready for you the shelters in 

 the most suitable spots, and the various drives care- 

 fully arranged ; in fact you will utilise the experience 

 gained by previous tenants. 



In such a case as this, be cautious about making 

 alterations in regard to the drives or the position of 

 the shelters ; for what may appear to you as im- 

 provements, may have been tried and proved failures 

 years ago. I remember a case in point. A sports- 

 man who had recently hired a driving moor insisted 

 upon arranging a new drive to suit his fancy. The 

 old keeper of the moor, who knew almost every tuft 

 of heather and brood of grouse on it, after long ex- 

 postulation, at length gave way. The drive took 

 place, and a fair bag was made. ' Now,' said the 

 tenant to the keeper, ' you see the grouse came over 

 the guns beautifully after all.' The answer was, 



