50 SHOOTING THE DUCK' 



known particulars as to their state at any time of the 

 tide. Brief reference thereto after consulting a local 

 tide-table, covering the season, which he has been 

 wise enough to calculate and commit to cardboard 

 will show the gunner where his best prospects lie at 

 any time of the day he feels disposed to launch his 

 punt. 



As concerns shooting fowl on their feeding- 

 grounds, punting on an ebb tide is nearly always a 

 failure. Birds are hard to approach ; if the gunner 

 does manage to obtain a shot, he may find the water 

 leaving the ground so fast that the punt will be left 

 should he attempt to gather the birds. The best 

 time to begin trying for a shot is at the first of the 

 flood. Fowl being seen, the gunner should set up to 

 them the moment he feels assured that there will be 

 water enough to float him within range ; not before, 

 for if he grounds, he is likely enough to lose the 

 shot. The heaviest shots are generally made just 

 before the tide covers the last of the feeding-ground. 

 If the fowler be free from competition, it is often 

 that is when the birds are loosely bunched best to 

 refrain from setting up to them till that time. On 

 most parts of the coast where brent and widgeon 

 feed, however, the policy of taking the first decent 

 chance that offers itself is a wise one. Should fowl 



