430 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS 



wish to make as good a bag as is possible considering 

 their numbers. 



Of course, if so inclined, you may stand in a 

 covert day by day, or evening after evening, wind or 

 no wind, and maybe always return home with a few 

 birds ; but doing this is certainly spoiling the 

 chance of a first-rate day's sport, and partakes of 

 ' bungling,' as it is more satisfactory to enjoy one 

 good day, as a reward of clever management, than 

 drive the pigeons from the locality by incessantly 

 teasing them for the sake of killing half a dozen a 

 result more likely to be caused by constant shooting 

 than it is by having one grand bombardment, and 

 then leaving the birds quiet to gather up again for your 

 next fusillade. 



You cannot ever expect to visit the same wood one 

 day after another, and do well with the pigeons that 

 frequent it ; for no birds are more easily frightened, 

 or are more ready to desert their accustomed shelter, 

 if much harassed.' 



HOW TO CHOOSE A PROPER HIDING PLACE 



The spot selected for a hiding place in covert when 

 waiting for pigeons as they fly in from the fields during 

 the day must needs be well chosen. It is a mistake to 

 post yourself in the centre of a wood ; the place to wait 

 is as near its outside or fence as a good concealment 

 from the birds approaching the decoys will permit. 



The best position for a shooter to take up is from 



