SHOOTING THE DUCK 



remains unbroken sport may be had throughout 

 the season. It should be made a rule never to 

 shoot more often than once a week. If very few 

 birds appear at any time of shooting do not molest 

 them again for two or three weeks, by the end of 

 which they will have given the lead to fresh batches. 

 Duck which have been shot at or have had their 

 companions shot at a few times will often come in 

 high over the pond and drop to the water almost 

 like stones. Such birds should be roused again 

 directly they reach the water, when they are almost 

 certain to give one of the guns an easy shot. 



So simple and so effective is the plan of ob- 

 taining tip-top flight shooting that one often wonders 

 at the lack of enterprise on the part of owners of 

 water naturally suited to its practice in so seldom 

 putting it into effect. There is a lonely pond of 

 fair dimensions in the very heart of a duck district. 

 During the season, by day, two or three couple of 

 mallard and a few teal may be killed there ; nothing 

 more. Yet the owner, in return for small trouble and 

 small expense, might week after week have the enjoy- 

 ment, brief, it is true, of the very cream of shooting. Of 

 course a great deal depends upon the season and the 

 locality ; but with things at their best a good season 

 in a good locality a year's bag will amount to several 



