SHOOTING IN WOODS AND THICKETS. 199 



lose sight of it, be quick in shooting. Pitch the gun up- 

 and at the instant the butt of the gun touches the shoulder, 

 draw the trigger and fire, shoot in the line the game is go* 

 ing, never mind the bushes, branches, and leaves, the shot 

 will pass through them. If your eye takes the line of flight 

 correctly, you will bag your game, the shot will riddle the 

 bushes and splinter the branches, and bring down twigs 

 and leaves, and if you hear a sound, as if something struck 

 or fluttered, or a rustle of the leaves, or see floating feathers, 

 you can be sure you have bagged your game. When shoot- 

 ing in woods and thickets, always take advantage of the 

 open places. Place yourself in a good position, so you will 

 have plenty of room to handle yourself, and free scope for 

 firing. Do not place yourself in high briars, or close run- 

 ning vines, and get tied up, or under overhanging bushes,* 

 or under low hanging branches. The art of knowing how 

 and where to place yourself to get a fair shot in thick co- 

 vert, is one of the secrets of success in filling the game bag. 

 When rabbit shooting in woods or thickets, have plenty of 

 dogs, the more the merrier. When the dogs bounce a 

 rabbit, do not follow the dogs, but place yourself in a clear 

 space of ground or path, and there stand perfectly stillj 

 have your gun in hand and be ready, keep your tongue 

 quiet, and your ears open, and look sharp, and you will 

 have a far better chance of bagging it, than by running 

 around and about with the dogs. If any kind of game is 

 approaching you, and you are in cover and the game is near 

 at hand, and you are standing erect, remain so and be per- 

 fectly motionless, do not move a muscle, the game will not 

 be apt to notice you if your dress is suitable to the cover, 

 but if you move or attempt to dodge or hide, they will 

 catch sight of you by the least movement, and on doing so 

 you will lose your chance. When shooting along hillsides, 

 and steep precipices, and narrow ridges, or sloping banks, 

 which are grown up with wood walk always along the 

 lower side of the rise you will get a better range of the 

 ground than by walking along the upper side of the rise. 

 When shooting in woods or thickets, always advance upon 



