SECTION IV 

 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING 



CHAPTER XIV 

 SWANS. GEESE 



TO encompass the death of a wild swan by his own 

 unaided skill in waylaying or stalking has ever 

 been the yearning of the keen young wild-fowler enter- 

 ing upon his novitiate. Once, however, this feat is 

 successfully accomplished he will possibly find that 

 quite as much excitement may be extracted from the 

 shooting of wild-duck and other fowl of lesser size. On 

 their first appearance in British waters in late autumn 

 wild swans are usually more approachable than at any 

 other time, as, fresh from northern wilds, they are then 

 more or less unfamiliar with the arts and wiles of the 

 fowler. 



Hard weather in the Baltic and other northern seas 

 and strong east winds will surely bring wild swans to our 

 coasts in December and January. The fowler anxious 

 to shoot these big fowl must then be on the alert. The 

 greatest measure of success will result from his being 

 first on the scene after the arrival of the swans from 

 over-sea, as but few shots from rival gunners will suffice 



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