46 SHOOTING THE DUCK 



anything like comfortable range of teal, let them have 

 it as they sit, and this without a moment's delay. 



Having made his shot the gunner should, just 

 for a brief time, keep an eye on the birds which 

 have escaped the charge, in case there may be any 

 droppers, which can be looked for and probably 

 gathered a few minutes later. Then he must set to 

 work briskly on the cripples, shooting each bird at 

 short range and picking it up then and there. The 

 birds killed by the swivel-gun can be gathered when 

 the cripples have been accounted for, and the fowler 

 can then proceed in search of any dropper or 

 droppers he has marked down. Whether the shot 

 has been on mud or water, let the liveliest cripples, 

 those which are making their way most quickly from 

 the scene of the shot, be attended to first. Should the 

 birds be on the ooze, mud-boards must be worn. 

 The beginner should be careful how he travels in 

 these, as a fall is a nasty, and may even be a 

 dangerous, thing. Place one foot fairly and squarely 

 on the mud before raising the other, and never let 

 haste or excitement prompt any departure from this 

 rule. 



Just a word on the wild-fowling 'centre.' A 

 beginner seeking information is almost invariably 

 advised to visit some widely known or much- 



