94 SHOOTING THE HARE 



but to kill it properly by shooting it in the proper 

 place. 



A fully choked gun in skilful hands is very effec- 

 tive in the open fields, and it is surprising to see the 

 distances at which hares can be killed, and well killed, 

 one after another, with such a weapon ; but for 

 shooting in covert or for rabbit-shooting such a gun 

 will not do. It requires considerable ability to hit 

 ground game at all, at short ranges, with a weapon of 

 this sort, and when hit the creature is as often as not 

 cut in two or blown to pieces. For general purposes a 

 gun very slightly choked, if at all, in the right barrel, 

 and what is termed ' medium choke ' in the left, will 

 do very well ; and, indeed, for all game such a weapon 

 is in ordinary hands the most suitable. Most people 

 would find their general shooting vastly improved if 

 they put their pride in their pocket, had very nearly 

 all the ' choke ' taken out of their brand-new hammer- 

 less ejectors, and gave up trying to achieve those 

 amazing ' gallery shots ' which are very effective, no 

 doubt, when they do come off, but which are success- 

 ful only at such an interval of time as is described in 

 certain circles as a ' blue moon.' 



