WILD-GOOSE SHOOTING 173 



punt are certainly far less noticeable against the sur- 

 rounding greyness of the sea. Then, again, prompt 

 decision is necessary in selecting a propitious moment 

 for stalking brent in a punt. Obviously, when the 

 fowl are hungry and busily intent on their food, when 

 every neck is craned downwards to tear up the sea- 

 grass, which they love, and even the sentinel birds 

 seem careless of their responsibilities, an opportunity 

 arises which should not be lost. But let it be 

 remembered that any mismanagement of the punt, 

 such, for instance, as would be occasioned by a 

 sudden deviation of the punt's direct course, would 

 be fatal to your chance when drawing within shot. 

 A long stalk in the open is, moreover, much more 

 likely to succeed than a short one, and it may be 

 taken, as a general rule, that the more exposed the 

 ground is which the geese occupy the longer should 

 be the distance at which the fowler must lie down to 

 ' set ' to them. 



At many of our fowling stations competition is so 

 keen among gunners, and the geese are so shy, owing 

 to constant disturbance, that long and random shots 

 are often taken at the geese with big mould shot in 

 the hope of securing one or two victims at almost 

 inconceivable distances. The effect of this misguided 

 policy is only too apparent ; for after the geese have 



