352 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS 



LETTEE XXII 



GROUSE SHOOTING (PART VII) 

 DRIVING continued 



ON FINDING THE DEAD BIRDS AFTER A GROUSE DRIVE 



DIRECTLY the drive is over, and before you step out of 

 your shelter to seek the slain, unload your guns ; 

 never fail to do this, for a loaded gun without super- 

 vision is always dangerous, whether from dogs or 

 bipeds. 



Whatever other shooters do, I also advise you not 

 to take a gun with you outside your shelter when 

 seeking your dead birds ; then you will not be 

 tempted to fire at a wounded grouse that may rise 

 and fly in the direction of some person hidden from 

 view over a ridge, or, perhaps, if the day is hot, lying- 

 down in high heather. 



It is all very well to say a wounded bird ought to 

 be killed ; so it should most certainly, but never at 

 the risk of injury to a human being ; and after a 

 grouse drive there are probably a score of people- 

 shooters, loaders and keepers wandering about in 



