34O LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS LETTER 



regard to the accuracy and rapidity with which he 

 handles his gun. 



The fact is, grouse driving offers every variety of 

 shot, and now and then a dozen shots in succession, 

 all at different angles and heights, almost as fast as a 

 shooter can load and fire. That is the kind of aiming 

 to teach a young sportsman to use his gun with 

 skill, and should he have the chance he will learn 

 more in a few days therefrom than he will in a 

 season's sport at partridges or grouse rising in front 

 of him as he walks them up. 



I have also often heard it said, by those un- 

 acquainted with grouse driving, that killing the birds 

 is but a matter of practice. Is it ? I doubt it. For 

 every ten men who shoot driven grouse, practise as 

 they may, you will not find more than two or three 

 who are successful in bagging their birds under all 

 conditions of wind and flight. It is just the same in 

 covert shooting ; one or two sportsmen of a party will 

 bring down the tallest and fastest pheasants in fine 

 form, whilst the majority of their number will do 

 quite the contrary ; yet we are never told ' it is but a 

 " knack," or a mere question of practice, killing high 

 pheasants.' 



There is no doubt that an accurate aim may in 

 some cases be acquired, to a certain extent, by a man 

 who has the advantage of very frequently employing 

 his gun ; but the really first-class marksman's perfec- 

 tion, whether at driven grouse or other game, is 



