\xv. GROUND GAME SHOOTING (PART 77) 405 



Hiirvey of the ground round you if you are standing, 

 and in front of, and on each side of you, if you are 

 walking, and instinctively decide in what direction 

 only you may tire with absolute safety, and then 

 adhere rigorously to this determination when shots 

 occur. In the open there is no danger in firing at a 

 rabbit that has turned back, provided the shooters 

 and assistants are in good line. In cover, or among 

 trees, bushes, or brambles, I would say necrr fire back 

 under an// circumstances, unless you can see, without 

 a >hadow of a doubt, that all is clear and safe on 

 ide: and in a covert this is rather a difficult 

 thing to prove on the moment. Firing back in thick 



r, or even in fairly thick cover, is most repre- 

 hensible ; and firing through or towards a hedge is 

 one of the most dangerous acts a shooter can be 



:ble of. It is no excuse, after peppering a beater, 

 to explain to him he had no right to be where he was, 

 as lie was not in his proper place, as you have no 

 earthly right to fire in the direction a person might, 



me unusual chance, happen to be, though unseen 

 by you : and the fact of some one committing an error 

 of position or judgment in no way palliates a shooter's 

 negligence in wounding him. 



Long shots at rabbits in covert are neither 



humane nor safe; for rabbits partially protected by 



leaves or twi^s are not often, however true the aim. 



to be killed clean at over 30 yards, and a very long 



fired from a gun held in a nearly level position 



