404 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS I.KTTKK 



him by sending the charge into his hind quarters 

 than into his head, and if shooting in a hunting 

 country may he the slayer of a fine fox ! A clever 

 ground game shot rarely cripples a rabbit, but will 

 stretch him out lifeless on the spot he was on when 

 fired at, and a bad shot should strive to do the same 

 by mercifully aiming for the head of the animal 

 alone. 



The pace of a rabbit, when running his best, is 

 very slow compared with the flight of a bird ; and he 

 therefore requires little or no forward allowance 

 further than directing the gun for his head. 



Shooters who aim what they term ' well forward 

 of a rabbit ' are just as likely to miss by sending the 

 charge too far in front of the mark as in any other 

 way ! 



If you are posted 011 a ride that is cut amid ferns, 

 or in a wood, to shoot rabbits as they cross the 

 opening, always stand on the same side of it as the 

 rabbits bolt from ; and when you expect a shot, hold 

 your gun as in fig. 78 or ready to put it instantly to 

 the shoulder, else your rabbit, if the ride is a narrow 

 one, may be out of sight before you can fire. 



SHOOTING RABBITS SAFELY 



Safety is a question that should ever be prominent 

 in your mind when rabbit shooting. Take a mental 



